The Maple, a non-profit news platform, recently released a list featuring 85 Canadians, including those with dual Canadian-Israeli citizenship, who have served in the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The website mentioned that this is only the first installment of what it plans to be an ongoing series, with further lists of Canadians who have enlisted in the IDF set to be published.
The individuals behind the creation of the list conducted extensive research. Along with the names of those who have served in the IDF, the entries also include detailed biographical information. Some of these entries even feature posts and videos from the individuals’ social media profiles. At this stage, however, the website does not accuse these individuals of any war crimes committed during their time in the military.
The site further encourages anyone with knowledge of other Canadians who have served in the IDF to come forward. “You should share their name, how you know they were in the military, and any public sources you have that prove it,” the website stated. The project defines a ‘Canadian’ as “someone who is a Canadian citizen, and/or has lived in Canada for a significant amount of time, and/or currently lives in Canada.”
Ben Mizrachi, a 22-year-old former IDF medic who was killed while assisting victims of the Nova Festival attack on October 7, is one of the 85 individuals featured in the list. The person responsible for compiling the list included a video in which Mizrachi’s mother speaks about her son.
The website indicates that the database, which was organized by Davide Mastracci, the managing editor of The Maple’s opinion section, will be expanded to include additional names in the near future.
Members of the Jewish and Israeli communities in Canada have expressed concern that the release of this database reflects a growing atmosphere of antisemitism in the country. “It’s stirring up the community,” said one Israeli who has lived in Canada for five years. “It’s running wild in our groups. In general, you see, our whole sense of ‘security’ here has been radically undermined for a long time. There will always be those who ignore it and say that it’s more dangerous in Israel. That may be true, but Canada, which was the symbol of a comfortable and safe life for Jews, has long since ceased to be so. There are antisemitic incidents all the time and the great concern is the lack of intervention by the police here. Just last Sunday police refused to take action against protesters who celebrated the deaths of the Bibas family members.”
This Israeli resident of Canada continued, calling the publication of the list an act of “criminal naivety” under the guise of freedom of expression. “It opens a window, God forbid, for serious things that he certainly would not write publicly. What else needs to happen for those who need to wake up? We are experiencing processes here from 1930s Europe. Marking Jews/Israelis, excluding them, shaming them in public. The point is that there is no doubt that the whole world is against us, but Canada is no longer a safe place for Jews.”
Jewish community members in Toronto have stated that the publication of this list seems to signal that the blood of Jews is being tolerated. “Whoever published the list is careful. He is not calling for harming them, but insists on publishing a list only of Canadians who served in the IDF. Why is that good?” the community said. The Jewish community further expressed, “There is also a condoning of shedding of Jewish blood; a feeling that the police are doing nothing.”
Since October 7, 2023, Canada has seen a significant surge in antisemitic incidents, with a 670% increase in such events. Last month, windows were shattered at the “Healthy” Hosahra restaurant in Toronto, a popular venue among Jews and Israelis, sparking widespread fear.
{Matzav.com}