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Toronto (September 9, 2025) – Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center (FSWC) is disturbed by today’s announcement from Tennis Canada that this week's Davis Cup World Group I tie between Canada and Israel in Halifax will be closed to fans due to safety concerns involving anti-Israel activists.

Earlier today, Tennis Canada stated that the tie, scheduled for this Friday and Saturday, will be played in a closed-venue format without fans in attendance. According to the organization, “Intelligence received from local authorities and national security agencies, combined with disruptions witnessed at other recent events both in Canada and internationally, indicated a risk of significant disruption to this event.”

This announcement comes less than one month after Tennis Canada rightly refused to give in to the demands of an open letter signed by more than 400 people to cancel the match-up between Canada and Israel.

FSWC President and CEO Michael Levitt issued the following statement:

“While we appreciate Tennis Canada’s efforts to push back against threats, harassment and intimidation from loud anti-Israel voices, this decision highlights the appalling reality faced by many Canadians today. Whether it is the intimidation of Jewish and other businesses, the canceling of Jewish and Israeli voices, or the targeting of sports, arts, Pride and political events, extremists are increasingly taking over our public spaces, making them unsafe and infringing on the rights of all Canadians to enjoy them. This latest outcome is not only disappointing for both the Canadian and Israeli tennis players, but also for fans who have long been anticipating attending this match.

“What Canada urgently needs is stronger leadership from our public officials and institutions – leadership that makes it clear we will not allow disruptive, extremist voices to dictate decisions and hijack and weaponize events. It is time to draw a clear line against the hateful tactics of a fringe group that repeatedly and relentlessly seeks to undermine our freedoms.”