Joint Statement by Israel’s Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism, Michal Cotler-Wunsh, and Canada’s Special Envoy for Preserving Holocaust Remembrance, Deborah Lyons

December 5, 2023

In early November, Israel’s Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism, Michal Cotler-Wunsh, visited Canada. In turn, this weekend, Deborah Lyons, Canada’s Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism and Holocaust Remembrance, reciprocated with a 2-day visit to Israel.

In Canada, we gathered with the visiting families of the hostages held by Hamas, and called for their immediate release. We met with Canadian Cabinet Ministers, a large group of Canadian Parliamentarians, and civil society representatives – all of whom affirmed Israel’s right and responsibility to defend itself and to protect its citizens.

In Israel, Special Envoy Lyons witnessed first-hand the devastation and agony of those attacked by Hamas on October 7 at Kibbutz Be’eri, met with educators at Yad Vashem (The World Holocaust Remembrance Center) to reinforce Canada’s efforts in Holocaust Remembrance, and met with President Herzog and Minister Chikli, Minister of Diaspora and Antisemitism, and assured them of the support of Canadians.

We came together to strongly condemn the heinous war crimes committed by Hamas on October 7^th – the murdering of more than 1,200 men, women and children, injuring of more than 7,000, kidnapping of over 240 hostages, and use of rape and sexual violence against Israeli women and girls.

We call for the unequivocal condemnation of the rape, torture, burning alive, killing, and kidnapping of thousands of innocents. There has never and will never be any circumstance in which terrorism is acceptable. There is no justification for the horrific atrocities of October 7^th.

In the wake of October 7^th, we now have the additional task of combatting the steep rise in antisemitism, both in Canada and around the globe. The atrocities perpetrated on 10/7 – and the global response to those atrocities – have made clear that to identify and combat all strains of antisemitism, it is critical to utilize the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism, which has been adopted by 40+ countries and 1000+ different jurisdictions. Holocaust education is critical to teaching the past, but in order to fulfil the commitment of “Never Again”, we must be able to recognize and combat the emerging strains of an ever-mutating and lethal hate.

We condemn the harassment of Jewish students in educational institutions. We condemn threats uttered toward Jews at places of work, worship, and in everyday life. We condemn the tearing down and stealing of mezuzahs. We condemn the parading of Hamas flags at protests. We condemn the tearing down of posters that mark the missing in our memories. We condemn the incitement of hatred and violence, including through chants which echo the Hamas charter with calls for the destruction of Israel and the targeting of Jews around the world.

There is no room for hate for Jews, Muslims or any community in Canada or Israel. Let us join together to uphold the dignity of each person in our midst. Let us comfort those who are hurting. Let us continue to call for the release of every child and adult brutally held captive by Hamas.

Above all, let us come together and commit to unequivocally condemn the antisemitic hate that fuelled 10/7 and its aftermath. Rather than allowing hate to divide us and tear us apart, let us strengthen our belonging and resilience as Canadians and Israelis, bolstered by our shared values of compassion, understanding, and tolerance.

Michal COTLER-WUNSH
Israeli Special Envoy for Combatting Antisemitism

Deborah LYONS
Canadian Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism