Just last Monday, Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech at Holy Blossom Temple synagogue in Toronto. Few were invited, and attendees received little advance warning. The event was highly anticipated by Canadian Jews, who have faced increasingly violent and frequent incitement and hatred. Carney had previously said little on the matter, making this address long overdue.
Carney’s Davos Ambitions vs. Toronto Reality
At Davos, Carney urged middle powers to create a New World Order against reckless authoritarianism. His wife, Diana Fox Carney, boasted at the Liberal convention that university students were already required to read his Davos speech. However, the Toronto synagogue address fell short of that high bar.
Ignoring the Core Issue
Carney acknowledged that “Canada’s civic compact is failing Jewish Canadians,” but he failed to explain why. His contempt for the current Israeli government is an open secret, and he has not spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since taking office. Instead, he frequently calls leaders of Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, Qatar, and other Arab or Muslim nations.
Selective Criticism
Carney denounces Israel for real and imagined offenses while praising Arab leaders for their commitment to peace. Yet he ignored Lebanon’s failure to disarm Hezbollah under the November 2024 ceasefire agreement. Hezbollah remains entrenched in southern Lebanon, targeting northern Israeli civilians with rockets and drones. Carney remained silent.
Championing Islamist Leadership
Carney’s worldview favors the “State of Palestine,” which he recognized unilaterally last September. He admires Qatar, a country that has financed and provided diplomatic cover to terrorist groups, including Hamas leadership. His approach, Bercovici argues, emboldens the Islamist sentiment corrupting Canada.
