Toronto (May 16, 2018) – Canadian Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is disappointed by the strong and unbalanced statement issued by Canada's Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau. The prime minister's statement does not condemn Hamas for inciting violence and its armed struggle to invade Israel. Hamas, recognized by Canada as a terrorist group, is determined to enter Israel in order to harm civilians by breaching the security fence and through tunnels.  

"While we despair about loss of life, Canada should steadfastly condemn Hamas for inciting violence and for attempting to enter a sovereign nation to carry out terrorism. It's disappointing that our prime minister did not condemn Hamas in his statement," said Avi Benlolo, President and CEO of FSWC. 

US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley told the Security Council yesterday: “Who among us would accept this type of activity on your border?…No country in this chamber would act with more restraint than Israel has.”

Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon said at yesterday's UN Security Council Meeting: “Hamas has committed war crimes not only against Israeli civilians but also against its own people – turning them into human shields for their own cynical gain. Every casualty that has resulted from the recent violence is a victim of Hamas’s war crimes.”

Israel shares Canada's values of freedom, democracy and human rights. Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies will continue promoting a peaceful conclusion to this conflict, including a two state solution. We look to Canada to be an honest broker in this process and to support the safety and security of Israeli citizens. 

Click here to read the prime minister's statement.

Click Here to Sign Our Petition: fswc.ca/petition

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Media Contact:
Avital Borisovsky  
Communications Associate   
416.864.9735 x 29 
aborisovsky@fswc.ca