The echoes of the Bondi Beach tragedy reverberate far beyond Australia, carrying a chilling warning. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskell, born in Toronto, sees a terrifying parallel unfolding in Canada – a surge in extremism ignored for too long.
Months before the horrific attack in Sydney, Haskell implored Australian officials to confront the rising tide of antisemitism. Now, she delivers the same urgent plea to Canada, fearing a similar fate if decisive action isn’t taken.
“You have serious issues,” Haskell stated, her voice laced with urgency. “I’ve been warning this is the same situation in Canada. If the government continues to reward terrorist organizations like Hamas and embrace their propaganda, blood will be shed on Canadian soil.”
The world watched in horror as a father and son unleashed terror at Bondi Beach, leaving fifteen dead and countless wounded. But for Haskell, the attack wasn’t a surprise; it was a predictable consequence of complacency.
She points to disturbing scenes in Australia – chants of “gas the Jews” echoing on the steps of the Sydney Opera House, even before the recent conflict escalated. A chilling display of hatred met with inaction from authorities.
Haskell argues that police and prosecutors, by failing to enforce existing hate crime laws, allowed extremist ideologies to fester and spread unchecked. This pattern, she warns, is dangerously mirrored in Canadian cities.
In Montreal and Toronto, anti-Israel mobs operate with alarming impunity, sometimes seemingly aided by law enforcement. Activists openly display flags of terrorist organizations and even dress as Hamas militants during rallies – a brazen display of radicalism.
The consequences are deeply personal. Haskell’s own father, a Canadian resident, now fears simply visiting his local kosher shop, haunted by the possibility of becoming a target. Jewish businesses, community centers, and even schools have faced repeated threats and, in some cases, gunfire.
“You see terrorist flags, death threats, attacks on Jews in the streets, and yet few are prosecuted,” Haskell lamented. “Enforcement creates deterrence. Without it, the danger only grows.”
Concerns extend to the conduct of law enforcement itself. Disturbing reports reveal Toronto Police deleting podcast episodes where officers praised the October 7th attacks as a catalyst for religious conversions and equated criticism of anti-Israel protests with “Islamophobia.”
The situation is further complicated by political rhetoric. Toronto’s mayor has publicly accused Israel of “genocide,” and oversaw a controversial flag-raising ceremony, actions Haskell believes embolden extremist elements.
Haskell identifies a network of terrorist groups – the Muslim Brotherhood, Samidoun, Hezbollah, the IRGC, and Hamas – operating within Canada. Their growing boldness, fueled by events like the October 7th massacre, signals a dangerous escalation.
“This isn’t just about Israel anymore,” Haskell emphasized. “This is about saving Canadian lives. The open display of terrorist symbols should be a stark warning to police that radicalization is taking hold.”
The warning is clear: without fundamental changes in policy and policing, Canada faces an increasingly real threat of a terror attack on its own soil. The time for complacency, Haskell insists, is over.
