‘Marching toward the abyss’: Israel just delivered a scathing warning to Canada that no one saw coming

Israel has issued a strong warning to Canada following a recent attack on a Jewish man in Montreal. The incident has sparked concerns about rising antisemitism in the country and led to diplomatic tensions between the two nations.

The attack happened on Friday when a Jewish father was walking with his three children in a Montreal park. An unknown person approached them and sprayed water on the family. The attacker then knocked the father to the ground and threw away his kippah, a traditional Jewish head covering. Police arrested a 27-year-old suspect on Monday in connection with the assault.

Israeli Minister for Diaspora Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Amichai Chikli delivered harsh criticism of Canada’s response to the incident. “Canada had the chance to change course after the disaster of [former Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau’s tenure, but instead chose to continue marching toward the abyss,” he told Fox News. The minister also claimed the violent incident drew “direct inspiration from the tailwind Canada’s government, de facto, gives to Hamas.”

Canada faces growing antisemitism problem

The attack highlights a broader issue of rising antisemitism across Canada. Despite Jews making up less than 1% of Canada’s population, antisemitism accounted for 18.8% of all reported hate crimes in 2024. Of the 1,342 religiously motivated incidents, 920 or 68.5% targeted the Jewish community.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney faced criticism for his delayed response to the Montreal attack. He only commented on the incident at 11 p.m. Saturday, roughly a day and a half after it occurred. His statement came only after Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar publicly criticized Ottawa’s response on social media.

“The attack on a Jewish father in Montreal late yesterday, in front of his own children, is an appalling act of violence. Everyone in Canada has an inalienable right to live in safety,” Carney posted on X. Sa’ar had earlier written that the incident was “shocking and stomach-turning” and called the images “reminiscent of dark periods of Jewish persecution.”

The Montreal attack was not an isolated incident. Just a week earlier, a synagogue in Victoria, British Columbia, was defaced with antisemitic threats. Richard Robertson from B’nai Brith Canada said Jewish Canadians need more than “mere lip service” from their leaders. He called for clear positions and vigorous action to create change.

The attack occurred during a time of strained Canada-Israel relations. Canada is among four countries, including France, Australia, and the United Kingdom, that have announced plans to recognize a Palestinian state. The rising tensions, part of a broader Middle East diplomatic upheaval, have also affected Canadian officials, with Deborah Lyons, Canada’s special envoy on Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism, resigning in July due to physical and emotional exhaustion.

Former Canadian ambassador to Israel Vivian Bercovici linked the current situation to political changes that began in 2015, part of shifting international political landscapes affecting diplomatic relationships worldwide.. She noted that Canada’s Muslim population more than doubled over 20 years, growing from 2.0% in 2001 to 4.9% in 2021. Bercovici suggested this demographic shift has influenced Canada’s approach to Middle East policy and Jewish community issues.