A suspicious fire struck a synagogue in Montreal, causing minor damage but sparking outrage. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau denounces a “heinous anti-Semitic attack” and calls for action. The Jewish community in shock at this new attack. Who is behind this act and how far will this wave of hatred go?
The city of Montreal woke up in shock this Wednesday morning after an arson attack struck a local synagogue overnight, causing property damage but fortunately no injuries. This odious act, the 7th targeting Jewish institutions in Montreal since last October according to the Advisory Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations (CIJA), arouses strong emotion within the Canadian Jewish community and beyond.
An arson fire
The flames broke out around 3 a.m. local time in this synagogue in the Côte-des-Neiges district. According to a source close to the investigation, the police found a incendiary objectconfirming the criminal origin of the fire. Witnesses also saw an individual quickly leaving the scene just after the fire broke out.
Véronique Dubuc, spokesperson for the Montreal police interviewed by AFP, indicated that he was still “ much too early » to know the exact motivations behind this act, while ensuring that a thorough investigation was underway to shed light on it. Property damage is believed to be limited to broken windows and smoke damage.
7th attack since October
But beyond the material aspect, it is the recurring nature of these attacks that concerns the Canadian Jewish community. According to the CIJA, this would in fact be the seventh time that a Jewish institution has been targeted in Montreal since October 7, the date of an unprecedented attack by the Palestinian movement Hamas in Israel which triggered a devastating war in Gaza.
The Jewish community is “once again outraged” by these “cowardly acts” aimed at “intimidating and harassing”.
Center for Jewish and Israeli Relations Advisory (CIJA)
For some observers, there is therefore a troubling link between this resurgence of anti-Semitic violence in Canada and the escalation of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in recent months. A thesis that seems to be supported by the words of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, for whom this fire is “ yet another example of the despicable wave of violence, hatred and intimidation that Jews in Canada – and around the world – have faced in recent weeks and months.«
Trudeau promises action
Faced with this act which he describes as a “heinous anti-Semitic attack” and a “hate crime”, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promises a firm response from the authorities. “ It’s not the Quebec we want, » he reacted on X (ex-Twitter). His Quebec counterpart François Legault also condemned this arson.
Beyond words, the Israeli president calls on the Canadian government to “ act decisively » and « show that such hatred is not tolerated. » The CIJA also requires “ justice and rapid action » from the authorities.
A persistent threat
While the exact extent of the anti-Semitic phenomenon in Canada remains to be measured, it is clear that the threat persists for the Jewish community, despite the efforts made in recent years by the public authorities to stem this scourge. Between hateful tags, desecration of cemeteries and even online threats, anti-Semitic acts take multiple forms.
According to official data, hate crimes targeting Jews represent each year more than 50% of total religious hate crimes in Canada, while the Jewish community only represents about 1% of the total population. A disproportionate victimization rate which says a lot about the persistence of anti-Semitism in the country.
Ultimately, this suspicious fire in a Montreal synagogue serves as a brutal reminder that the fight against anti-Semitism is a constant battle. Beyond the necessary police and judicial response, it is indeed in-depth work on education, inter-religious dialogue and “living together” that is necessary to hope, one day, to overcome this scourge.
