"I am a Zionist:" Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau voices strong support for Israel

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau openly declared himself a “Zionist” while advocating for Jewish rights, stating, “No one in Canada should be afraid to call themselves a ‘Zionist.’

“I am a Zionist”, he said while addressing the National Forum on Combatting anti-Semitism, adding that Zionist means “believing in the rights of Jewish people.” He condemned rising anti-Semitism, warning against indifference and rationalisation. 

Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau was criticised misrepresenting Zionism by defining it as a belief in Jewish people's right to self-determination.

Trudeau, however, added, "The term Zionist increasingly being tossed around as a pejorative, even though it simply means believing in the right of Jewish people, like all people, to determine their future, is not normal," he claimed.

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Critics argued that this definition glosses the ideology's complex and problematic history. Zionism was linked to the displacement and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their lands, a policy that continues to this day.

Trudeau sounded the alarm on rising antisemitism and Holocaust denial in Canada, warning that "warning lights are flashing red." 

He emphasised that the current situation was "not normal," citing instances of antisemites openly supporting Hamas and Hezbollah in Canadian cities.

Trudeau's remarks came after a significant increase in hate incidents targeting Jewish communities across Canada, following the Hamas and Israel war on October 7, 2023. 

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Statistics Canada reported a 71% rise in hate crimes against Jewish people from 2022 to 2023, making them the most targeted group in the country.

The Canadian government took steps to address the issue, including the introduction of the National Holocaust Remembrance Program, which aims to preserve the memory of the Holocaust and combat antisemitism. The program allocated $1.5 million in funding for initiatives promoting Holocaust education and awareness.