Toronto (April 28, 2020) - Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) hosted a Zoom discussion today with Aboud Dandachi, a former Syrian refugee and Muslim who has become a passionate advocate for Israel.

Dandachi sat down with FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo to share his experiences growing up in the Middle East and being subjected to constant antisemitic and anti-Israel propaganda. Like many people around him, Dandachi passively supported Hezbollah and accepted the assumption that Israel was his enemy.

Dandachi recounted how all of that changed with the outbreak of the civil war in Syria. As horrors unfolded around him, Dandachi was astonished to discover the extreme and heroic lengths being taken by Israel and its people to save the lives of injured Syrians. Deeply touched by Israel’s efforts, Dandachi established a website called Thank You Am Israel (Thank you Jewish Nation) and has been an active advocate for Israel and against antisemitism ever since.

Dandachi now lives in Toronto.

Avi Benlolo’s discussion with Aboud Dandachi can be viewed in its entirety here.

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