1. Egypt Declares State of Emergency After Palm Sunday Bombings

The government of Egypt has declared a three-month state of emergency following yesterday's bombing attacks on two Coptic Christian churches in the country. The twin bombings - which killed at least 44 people - came as Christian Egyptians gathered to celebrate the Christian holiday of Palm Sunday. The Islamic State in the Sinai has since claimed responsibility for the attacks. Christian Egyptians make up about 10 per cent of the country's population, and are considered a targeted minority in the heavily Sunni Muslim nation. FSWC condemns this atrocity and stands with the Christian community, which is being attacked and ethnically cleansed from the Middle East, except in Israel.

2. Israel Comes Under Rocket Attack from Islamic State Immediately After Closing Sinai Border

Communities in southern Israel came under rocket attack this morning, which the Islamic State in the Sinai has claimed responsibility for. This occurred shortly after Israel closed its border with the Egyptian Sinai citing intelligence which suggested a terrorist attack originating from the region was imminent. Israel's decision to close its borders with Egypt comes a day after the bombing attacks targeting the Egyptian Coptic Christian community. No injuries are reported at this time; however, there has been property damage to an Israeli farming facility near the Egyptian border. 

3. Far-Right French Presidential Candidate Marine Le Pen Denies France's Role in Holocaust 

Marine Le Pen, the leader of France's far-right National Front Party and a leading candidate in France's presidential race, has denied any culpability by the French state in the roundup of French Jews in Paris during the Nazi occupation of France in the early years of World War II. While both former and current French presidents have apologized to the French Jewish community for France's role in what is known as the "Vel d'Hiv Roundup" (named after the cycling track where more than 13,000 French Jews were held in Paris), Le Pen denied France's responsibility. Le Pen stated, "If there are people responsible, it's those who were in power at the time. It's not France."

4. Students at UBC Vote to Reject BDS

Students at the University of British Columbia (UBC) have rejected the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel following a referendum vote held by UBC's student union on whether to adopt and support the anti-Israel and antisemitic movement. A reported 52% of UBC students voted against adopting BDS - a strong display of solidarity with UBC's Jewish community. FSWC released a statement on Saturday expressing its satisfaction with the results.  

5. US VP Mike Pence Thanks Netanyahu for Israel's Support of US Action in Syria

Following the United States' action against Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad on Thursday, it is reported that US Vice President Mike Pence called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to thank him for Israel's strong support of the American operation. Netanyahu had been the first world leader to publicly announce support for President Trump's decision to strike the Syrian regime, and had called for global action against the Syrian government following their use of chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. On the call, both Pence and Netanyahu re-affirmed the strong alliance between the Israel and the US. 

6. Consul General of Germany in Toronto Responds to Antisemitic Violence at Berlin School

FSWC was deeply concerned after hearing about an incident at a school in Germany, where a Jewish boy was subjected to antisemitic violence by Muslim schoolmates after telling them he is Jewish. We reached out to the Consul General of Germany in Toronto, Peter Fahrenholtz, to comment on this incident and what Germany is doing to prevent similar occurrences.

"Jewish life and bridging Jewish culture and religion with today's Germany is a crucial pillar of our cultural federal foreign policy," said Fahrenholtz, mentioning the "plenty of civil engagement to counter bullying in schools and social media" and "Roots of Empathy anti-bullying program in schools in Bremen and Berlin." 

"Any anti-Jewish behavior or statement is not acceptable and will be addressed or even persecuted by law."

7. FSWC at Work

ICYMI: During the month of March, FSWC's award-winning education department served 19 communities in Ontario, 33 different schools, delivered 112 workshops, and reached over 3,700 students! In addition, FSWC hosted our 6th annual Speakers Idol event - which received nearly 200 hundred entries from students across our province. Further, FSWC continues to collaborate with local leaders and school boards - holding meetings with representatives from the Toronto District School Board, as well as officials from the city of Hamilton in the last month alone. FSWC takes pride in delivering unforgettable educational experiences for young Canadians, with a focus on building the foundations of a safer, more tolerant and accepting Canadian future!

PHILANTHROPY CORNER

FSWC is a designated Canadian charitable organization that provides tax receipts for charitable contributions. A donation to FSWC is tax deductible and provides an incredible footprint of direct action in our community. If you want to change lives and provide for positive community development, consider extending your philanthropy to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center this spring.  

MAKE IT COUNT