Violent rhetoric from extremists has spiked since Oct. 7 attack: CSIS
The Israel-Hamas war has led to a spike in “violent rhetoric” from “extremist actors” that could prompt some in Canada to turn to violence, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service warns.
The statement comes as newly released documents illustrate discussions last fall between the spy agency, the federal Public Safety Department and Muslim and Jewish leaders about responding to a reported uptick in hate crimes spurred by the conflict.
“While the long-term impacts of the current crisis cannot be easily predicted, it is clear that this conflict has raised tensions within our society,” wrote CSIS spokesman Eric Balsam. “Violent rhetoric from extremist actors has increased since the attack by Hamas and, as the conflict continues to unfold, it is possible that these events could impact certain individuals’ intent to mobilize to violence.”
The agency’s role is to monitor and identify threats and alert the government. That doesn’t include lawful protests and dissent, which are protected by the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, Balsam added.
Documents released to the Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act detail summaries of discussions federal officials had separately with Jewish and Muslim leaders about the ongoing domestic turmoil. One such document says CSIS representatives “assured all participants that they will continue to monitor threats and to look for evidence of attacks being planned.” The agency remains in talks with leaders from Muslim and Jewish communities to hear their concerns, Balsam said.
Director David Vigneault met with the federal envoys to combat antisemitism and Islamophobia last fall, he said.
Over the course of their meetings, federal officials heard concerns from Muslim and Arab leaders about public rhetoric around the war, including what one attendee felt was “silence” from the government about how the situation in the Middle East would affect safety in Canada.
Concerns were also raised about free speech. “Activists are receiving backlash, being labelled as antisemitic, and facing various consequences for shouting chants such as, ‘From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,’ as well as calling for ‘intifada,’ ” the documents said.
In Arabic, intifada is a word with meanings that include shaking off oppression. In English, it is most commonly associated with two periods of particular intensity in the Israel-Palestine conflict, which included a series of attacks by Palestinian terrorist groups inside Israel.
Community leaders told officials that activists were being “heavily surveilled” and “their right to free speech is being stifled,” the note says.
Internal emails sent to RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme also obtained through access-to-information laws show officers were recording the chants and slogans that appeared at what was billed as a pro-Palestinian protest in Toronto in late October.
“Still legal and not looking like moving to violence,” wrote deputy commissioner Mark Flynn.