Intelligence Brief

FSWC’s 5 Things to Know March 13th, 2017

   1. Second Bomb Scare in a Week Threatens Vancouver JCC 

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center is concerned over the secondthreat against a Jewish Community Centre in Vancouver over the past week.Vancouver Mayor, Gregor Robertson, tweeted yesterday evening that he isstanding in solidarity with Vancouver's Jewish community. The director of theGreater Vancouver JCC, Eldad Goldfarb, told media that, “we don’t know wherethey’re doing it from and why. It’s hatred. It’s racism, and it’sAntisemitism.” 

 2. Rally Against Antisemitism Kicks off Today 

The FSWC would like to congratulate Marlee Robyn Socket, the 19-year oldRyerson student that organized a rally against antisemitism that took placeoutside of Toronto’s Bloor and Spadina JCC this afternoon. Socket was so upsetwith the recent rise of anti-Semitism in North America, including the recentbomb threats against 30 schools and Jewish Community Centres, that she decidedto be proactive and raise awareness and support in the fight againstantisemitism in Toronto. 

 3. Government of Jordan Releases Terrorist Who Killed 7 Israeli Schoolgirls 

The FSWC remembers the victims and anniversary of a terrorist attack thatclaimed the lives of 7 Israeli school children 23 years ago. Convictedterrorist, Ahmed Daqamseh was released from prison yesterday after hecompleted his twenty-year sentence for the murder of seven Israeli schoolgirls.Daqamseh, along with the Jordanian Army, opened fire on a group of Israelischoolgirls visiting the ‘Island of Peace’.  

4. Investigative Report: British Government Funding Palestinian Schools WhichHail Terrorists and Teach Radicalism 

The FSWC is expressing concern over an investigation that has revealed that Britishforeign aid is funding Palestinian schools that are named after knownterrorists and Islamic militants, and that teach extremism and glorifyterrorism in the classroom. This delicate issue is made even more complicatedby the fact that the Department for International Development states that youngpeople are often more vulnerable to radicalization when they do not have accessto education. Joan Ryan, Chair of Labour Friends of Israel supports sending aidto Palestine, while urging Ministers to ensure that aid recipients stay withinthe funding agreements, stating: “We cannot stand idly by while the Palestinianauthority sanctions antisemitic incitement which poisons young minds…” 

 5. FSWC at Work 

Roots of Hate and Intolerance WorkshopLate last week, FSWC educators hosted grade 7 and 8 students from St. MatthewElementary School in Mississauga in our in-office Tomand Anna Koffler Tolerance Training Centre, where they delivered our Roots of Hate and Intoleranceworkshop. The teachers accompanying the students reported that the experiencewas valuable to their students, and pledged to return next school year. 

PHILANTHROPY CORNER:FSWC is a designated Canadian charitable organization that provides taxreceipts for charitable contributions. A donation to FSWC is tax deductible andprovides an incredible footprint of direct action in our community. If you wantto change lives and provide for positive community development, considerextending your philanthropy to Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center this fall. Make it count.