The past two weeks have seen more overt anti-Semitism in our streets than we have seen since the pro-Hezbollah demonstrations more than a decade ago. This newspaper is the first to stand for indivisible freedom of expression save and except for overt incitement to violence. That line has been crossed. Let the debate continue. But it is time to limit the hate.
What started out as anti-Israeli and pro-Palestinian demonstrations outside the Israeli Consulate opposing the Israeli bombing of Hamas in Gaza after that terrorist army launched 3200 rocket attacks against Israeli civilians, has morphed into physical attacks on Jews, threats against Jewish lives blared through Montrealâs streets and a riot by Palestinian supporters that laid siege to downtown. The actions and words of many of these demonstrators can accurately be characterized as anti-Semitism as they have been by many public officials and commentators.