Anti-Israel extremists protested at Toronto’s annual “Walk With Israel” parade on May 22, bashing the Jewish State, calling for violence and praising terrorists, according to Honest Reporting Canada.
Around 20,000 supporters of Israel had attended the annual walkathon that shows support for Israel and is followed by a celebration by the Jewish community.
The "UJA Walk With Israel 2023" was similar to past events in that it “typically attracts a wide array of participants from the Jewish community and beyond, but like moths to a flame, anti-Israel activists have regularly made an appearance at the event,” Honest Reporting Canada said in a statement.
“While anti-Israel activists have the freedom to express their opinions, even at the walkathon, this year, a contingent of anti-Israel protesters veered far beyond the line of legitimate differences of opinion about Israeli policies, and into outright expressions of hate,” they added.
According to the pro-Israel watchdog, one of the anti-Israel speakers accused Jewish participants in the event of being imposters and not really Jewish.
“You are a bunch of criminals. That’s all you are. You are not Jewish. How can a Jew after they went to the Holocaust do another Holocaust on the Palestinians? How can a Jew commit another Holocaust on the Palestinians? The real Jews, they support us,” the demonstrator claimed, before referring to Zionism as “terrorism” and calling for the destruction of Israel and repeating the genocidal slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be free. Palestine will be free.”
“While some defenders of the phrase maintain that it’s not violent at all and is only an expression of solidarity with the Palestinians, and does not refer to a threat of physical harm against Israel, but if the phrase is not violent in nature, then that message has not reached the protesters of Monday’s Walk with Israel,” Honest Report Canada said.
They described how the protesters also changed radical slogans attacking Israel and supporting terror, such as “Jihad. Jihad, jihad, Allah Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]. Long live Hamas. Long live Hamas. Long live Hamas. Long live Hezbollah.”
Another speaker said: “Abu Obeida [Spokesperson of Hamas’ Al-Qassam Brigades] is ready [to launch rockets] for you [Israelis]. Abu Obeida is ready for you. Are you ready for him?… Are you ready for the sound of the sirens? The sound that you are listening to too often. This is the sound of… [Sound of a siren].”
The protesters also voiced support for violent acts committed against Israelis, according to the report.
“There is only one solution: Intifada, revolution… Intifada, Intifada. Long live the Intifada. Intifada, Intifada. Long live the Intifada. There is only one solution: Intifada, revolution,” they chanted.
Signs held up by the demonstrators included the pro-terror phrase “The resistance is legitimate,” while others featured a swastika imposed over the Star of David, which according to the IHRA working definition of antisemitism, is a clear example of antisemitism.
“While anti-Israel activists have the right to protest Israeli actions, even doing so at a family-friendly walkathon, that right does not extend to praising terrorist groups and advocating for violence against Israelis. It’s time the public saw the true face of these anti-Israel groups,” Honest Reporting Canada said.
According to video of the event, while the extremists were harassing participants in the pro-Israel parade, and calling for violence and supporting terrorist groups, police stood by and did not intervene.