Why Canadian Jews Are Bracing for the Outcome of Israel's Election
Updated: 3 days ago
Stephen Pincus
From the Editor: The article below, which appeared in HaAretz on September 29, 2026, was not submitted for publication but the Editor believes that it would be of interest to our readers prior to the Israeli elections. The author has given his permission to republish this article.
Canadian Jews feel stressed. We love Canada. Not only the grandeur of its geography but the tolerance, sensibility and rich diversity of its people. Canada has been good for us, and we've been good for Canada. But the sharp rise in antisemitism in its varied forms alarms us. We worry about the safety of our schools and synagogues, the future of our children.
Further, many Canadian Jews are deeply distressed about news from Israel of rampant settler violence, attacks on the independence of the courts and media, politicization of the internal security services, and other abuses by Netanyahu's extremist government. As we watch the undermining of the Jewish state's foundational vision – the values set out in its Declaration of Independence – we also know that this aggravates antisemitism.
All of which leaves us anxious about the outcome of Israel's pivotal election on October 27. This is also a stressful moment for all Canadians.Trump's clumsy attacks threaten not only our jobs and living standards, but potentially our independence and freedom. History shows that such threats can weaken and polarize societies and make them vulnerable to extremist authoritarians.
Let's consider how Canadians generally are responding and then focus on the Jewish community. Veteran conservative commentator Andrew Coyne recently noted that "all over the democratic world, the hard right – nationalist, populist, anti-immigration, contemptuous of democratic norms and cozy with authoritarian regimes – is on the march." Coyne points to Germany, France, Italy, Japan and Britain as recent prominent examples, along with Turkey, Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, and Netanyahu's Israel.
Yet Canada has not, at least so far, succumbed to populism and polarization. Instead, Canadians have rallied around a centrist leader with deep professional experience who has wide global credibility as a rare adult in the room. Although this sentiment may be tested by further economic turbulence, it appears to be more than reflexive patriotism, but rooted in the broadly liberal-democratic values of a quintessentially multi-cultural society.
So where does this leave Canada's Jews? According to the Canadian Jewish Barometer 2026 independent survey, Canadians still generally view Jews positively, but there has been a significant increase in anti-Jewish sentiment over the past two years. The survey also found a stark split within the Jewish community between those who favour speaking out against abhorrent Israeli government acts, and others who support the current regime or are simply not comfortable with public criticism.
If the Israeli election returns a version of the current far-right coalition, we can expect widening rifts between Canada and Israel, between Canadian Jews and other Canadians, and within the Jewish community. This would increase the dangers faced by Canadian Jews, and make an already difficult situation even worse.
What should Canadian Jews do? The Jewish community's first concern must be to safeguard its members. Security requires vigilance, intelligence, strategy and investment. Another priority is education. Nurturing and sustaining strong Jewish values and identity, and a genuine understanding of and love for Israel, throughout and beyond the community but especially among young people, is critical.
But we also owe it to Israel, to our community and to our Jewish and Canadian values, to speak out at this pivotal time against the Netanyahu government's harmful policies. As Mike Prashker, co-founder and CEO of The London Initiative, puts it: "it has never been clearer that everything that happens in Israel impacts Jews everywhere… Israel and the Jewish people stand at a crossroads, with a fateful election set to take place on October 27. At this time, neutrality is complicity."
In speaking up, we need to be mindful of the profound personal and collective pain and trauma experienced by those who have lived in the region through the tragic events of October 7, 2023 and ensuing war. While this cautions us to voice our concerns with respect and humility, it also compels us to speak up clearly and urgently.
