(CBC-Canada-Ha'aretz) Sabrina Jonas - A Quebec court has prohibited protests for the next 10 days near several Jewish institutions in Montreal following back-to-back demonstrations outside community buildings in recent days. According to an injunction granted Tuesday, protests are banned within 50 meters of the Federation CJA building and the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue. The order also applies to the Cummings Center, the Sylvan Adams YM-YWHA, Herzliah High School, and United Talmud Torahs of Montreal. The injunction was served to Independent Jewish Voices, Montreal4Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement Montreal, and Alliance4Palestine. Federation CJA (Combined Jewish Appeal) said a demonstration took place Monday outside their building, with demonstrators attempting to block access to the building and harassing those trying to enter. "The protests we've decried for weeks have escalated into a hate mob targeting Jewish institutions. Jews must be able to gather without the need for protection." Yair Szlak, president and CEO of Federation CJA, said the Monday demonstration was aggressive. He said there is a difference between freedom of expression and blockading a Jewish building. Deborah Lyons, Canada's special envoy for combatting antisemitism, wrote on X: "It should never have come to this. Jewish Canadians should not require an injunction in order to enter their community institutions. I will be speaking with local leadership to make sure laws are enforced to keep the Jewish community safe."
2024-03-08 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive