Intelligence Brief
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1. FSWC Investigating Following Release of Letter from LCBO
Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) has reached out to government officials about a letter that was released by the LCBO requiring sacramental wine vendors to discontinue the importation of wines from the West Bank labelled as "Product of Israel." FSWC is contesting this apparent policy change with LCBO and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which is seemingly initiating this action.
2. Gathering of Hate Group at Etobicoke Library Condemned
Today, FSWC condemned the gathering of a hate group - consisting of individuals with ties to the neo-Nazi and Holocaust denying movement - that is taking place this evening at Richview Library. After reaching out to the library, FSWC discovered that the meeting was booked by Paul Fromm - a white nationalist with neo-Nazi ties. FSWC has since expressed its concern to the library.
3. FSWC Commends York Regional Police for Action Taken in Woodbridge Graffiti Case
On Monday, FSWC learned that York Regional Police had laid charges after discovering antisemitic, anti-Black and homophobic images and words on the exterior walls of Woodbridge College in Vaughan. FSWC President and CEO Avi Benlolo - who worked with York Regional Police and lead inspectors of the Hate Crimes Unit following the incident - expressed that he was "pleased to see that York Regional Police has taken this case very seriously."
4. Hate Graffiti Discovered in Fort Erie
Last week, FSWC learned about an incident that took place at a park in Fort Erie. Nazi symbols and crude images were spray painted on a children's playground and nearby clubhouse. Since then, the graffiti has been cleaned. FSWC continues to track real-time national incidents by province and region on its website at fswc.ca - under the "antisemitism" tab.
5. Israel Seeks to Establish a 'South Syria Army' to Prevent Further Iranian Expansion
Sources within the Israeli government are claiming that Israel is planning on establishing a Syrian army - manned by Syrian allies of the Jewish State - in the southern region of Syria, near the Israeli-Syrian border in the Golan Heights and northern Jordan, in order to prevent forces loyal to Iran from gaining a foothold in the area with which could be used to launch attacks against Israel.
6. The United Arab Emirates Accuses Al Jazeera of Antisemitism, Inciting Religious Hatred
In a sign of escalating tensions in the region, and perhaps shifting alliances, representatives from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) accused the Qatari-backed broadcaster Al Jazeera of antisemitism, and of inciting religious hatred against the Jewish people, earlier today.
From the Arab World
Four Arab states - SaudiArabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt - are continuing the boycottof Qatar, stating that the country's government cannot be trusted andsupports terrorism. This news comes one day after a US-Qatar terrorism-fundingdeal was signed.
Earlier this week, news outletsreported that the Palestinian Authority has cutthe salaries of 37 Hamas officials. This is part of an effort to pressurethe Gaza-based group to relinquish control over the Gaza Strip.
Today,the Syrian opposition presented the UN with a memorandum today, discussing thesituation of Syrianrefugees in Arsal, Lebanon. Dozens of refugees have been leaving thenortheastern border town to return to Syria.
FSWC at Work
Nelson Canada has taken concrete action after the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) contacted representatives from Nelson and highlighted a serious issue with one of their Social Studies textbooks being used in Ontario classrooms, which incorrectly stated that the State of Israel uses child soldiers.
Nelson Canada has assured FSWC that they have taken the following actions to correct this mistake: replaced stock of all student books and all digital instances with corrected versions; mailed a letter to all schools who had ordered the incorrect versions of the text to highlight the mistake; issued approximately 700 "corrective" stickers to schools which have requested them; and all incoming "returned" stock of the incorrect text is being destroyed and replaced with a corrected version.
PHILANTHROPY CORNER
FSWC is a designated Canadian charitable organization that provides tax receipts for charitable contributions. A donation to FSWC is tax deductible and provides an incredible footprint of direct action in our community. If you want to change lives and provide for positive community development, consider extending your philanthropy to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center this summer.
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