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㽶ƵֱViolent rhetoric㽶Ƶֱ from 㽶Ƶֱextremist actors㽶Ƶֱ spikes after Israel/Hamas war: CSIS

Newly released intelligence documents indicate situation has the attention of Canada㽶Ƶֱs spy network
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Pro-Israel protesters, left, and pro-Palestine protesters face off as police keep the two groups separate at a demonstration in front of a synagogue in Thornhill, Ont., Thursday, March 7, 2024. Newly released documents show federal officials had separate discussions with Jewish and Muslim leaders about the domestic turmoil being caused by the ongoing Israel-Hamas conflict. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn

The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in 㽶Ƶֱviolent rhetoric㽶Ƶֱ from 㽶Ƶֱextremist actors㽶Ƶֱ that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.

The statement comes as newly released documents illustrate discussions last fall between the spy agency, the federal Public Safety Department and Muslim and Jewish leaders about responding to a reported uptick in hate crimes spurred by the conflict.

㽶ƵֱWhile the long-term impacts of the current crisis cannot be easily predicted, it is clear that this conflict has raised tensions within our society,㽶Ƶֱ wrote spokesman Eric Balsam.

㽶ƵֱViolent rhetoric from extremist actors has increased since the attack by Hamas and, as the conflict continues to unfold, it is possible that these events could impact certain individuals㽶Ƶֱ intent to mobilize to violence.㽶Ƶֱ

The agency㽶Ƶֱs role is to monitor and identify any threats and alert the government. That doesn㽶Ƶֱt include lawful protests and dissent, which are protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Balsam added.

Documents released to The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act detail summaries of discussions federal officials had separately with Jewish and Muslim leaders about the ongoing domestic turmoil.

One such document says Canadian Security Intelligence Service representatives 㽶Ƶֱassured all participants that they will continue to monitor threats and to look for evidence of attacks being planned.㽶Ƶֱ

The agency remains in talks with leaders from Muslim and Jewish communities to hear their concerns, Balsam said. Director David Vigneault met with the federal envoy to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia last fall, he added.

Over the course of their meetings, federal officials heard concerns from Muslim and Arab leaders about public rhetoric around the war, including what one attendee felt was 㽶Ƶֱsilence㽶Ƶֱ from the government about how the situation in the Middle East would impact the safety of Palestinians and other Muslims living in Canada.

Concerns were also raised about free speech.

㽶ƵֱActivists are receiving backlash, being labelled as antisemitic, and facing various consequences for shouting chants such as, 㽶ƵֱFrom the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,㽶Ƶֱ as well as calling for 㽶Ƶֱintifada.㽶Ƶֱ

In Arabic, intifada is a word with meanings that include shaking off oppression. In English, it is most commonly associated with two periods of particular intensity in the Israel-Palestine conflict, which included a series of attacks by Palestinian terrorist groups on public venues inside Israel.

Community leaders also told officials that activists were being 㽶Ƶֱheavily surveilled㽶Ƶֱ and 㽶Ƶֱtheir right to free speech is being stifled,㽶Ƶֱ the note says.

Internal emails sent to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme also obtained through access-to-information laws show officers recording the chants and slogans that appeared at what was billed as a pro-Palestinian protest staged in Toronto in late October.

㽶ƵֱStill legal and not looking like moving to violence,㽶Ƶֱ wrote deputy commissioner Mark Flynn.

Jewish leaders along with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and others have decried examples of protesters glorifying Hamas㽶Ƶֱ Oct. 7 attack against southern Israel at demonstrations in cities across Canada.

One such incident remains under investigation by Ottawa police.

The documents outline how federal officials consistently heard from Jewish leaders about the need for police to take more action to stop 㽶Ƶֱthe hateful rhetoric expressed at rallies.㽶Ƶֱ It specifically points to the use of the term 㽶ƵֱZionist.㽶Ƶֱ

㽶ƵֱAs an overwhelming majority of Jews identify as Zionists and believe in the need for a Jewish state 㽶Ƶֱ calls for attacks against Zionists should be seen as calls for attacks against Jews.㽶Ƶֱ

The note said the RCMP was equipping its front-line members with a 㽶Ƶֱtool kit㽶Ƶֱ explaining the conflict㽶Ƶֱs historical context to help officers 㽶Ƶֱidentify signs of overt and covert hate that may be seen at protests.㽶Ƶֱ

The national force also encouraged local police to pay attention to Jewish-owned businesses and schools, not just synagogues and community centres, according to a summary dated Nov. 29.

The documents also indicate Public Safety Canada would be reaching out to universities 㽶Ƶֱto discuss the dampening of rising tensions and antisemitism on campuses.㽶Ƶֱ It later said it was relaying information to schools 㽶Ƶֱon the current threat environment.㽶Ƶֱ

In the months since, protesters have set up pro-Palestinian encampments at McGill University in Montreal, the University of Ottawa, Vancouver㽶Ƶֱs University of British Columbia and most recently at the University of Toronto.

School administrators say hate will not be tolerated, warning students will be punished if they run afoul of university policy.

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