
Allies need to step up in battle against antisemitism: former defence chief
Former chief of our country’s military calling for Canadians to stand up for embattled Jewish community
OTTAWA — With the world marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day on Monday, Canada’s former top soldier says more needs to be done to combat the country’s ongoing antisemitism crisis.
Retired general Rick Hillier, who served as chief of defence staff for Canada’s military, told The Toronto Sun he finds it disturbing and troubling that officials, politicians and the police aren’t doing enough to stave off the hate gripping Canada’s streets and university campuses.
“This is one of the most destructive and corrosive things happening to our country, and we’ve had precious little pushback from the folks that we elect to be our leaders to ensure all Canadians can live a life free of fear and insecurity, and with all the potential of our great country at their foot,” he said in an interview this week.
Since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks that saw scores of Palestinian terrorists conduct a campaign of sexual assault, murder and kidnapping against Israeli communities, pro-Palestinian activists here in Canada launched a campaign of intimidation marches, rallies and demonstrations on the streets of Canada’s cities, including through Toronto’s Jewish neighbourhoods.
“My expectation was that we were going to join with Israel and make sure that those terrorists, those monsters, were going to be held accountable for what they have done, and that would occur as a general feeling in the population,” Hillier said.
“Much to my surprise, it did not occur, and Israel became the only country in the world — a tiny country in a sea of enemies — to be demonized for defending itself after being brutally attacked by a bunch of monsters.”
He added that Jews in Canada found themselves demonized — with numerous synagogues, Jewish schools and community centres being vandalized, shot at or firebombed.
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