OP-ED: Ya’ara Saks blames everyone but Liberals for rising anti-Semitic violence

Sue-Ann Levy writes: "In a 90-minute online debate this week, controversial Liberal incumbent Ya’ara Saks told viewers that her government has done everything it can to stop anti-Semitism."

Source: Facebook

Author: Sue-Ann Levy

In a 90-minute online debate this week, controversial Liberal incumbent Ya’ara Saks told viewers that her government has done everything it can to stop anti-Semitism — that the provincial and municipal politicians are to blame for not enforcing hate laws against terrorist sympathizers who block the streets of Toronto and other major cities.

The York Centre MP, who has come under fire for sitting on her hands and doing nothing about the scourge of Jew hatred in her riding — firebombings of schools and synagogues, protests by violent Hamasniks among other things — and in Toronto in general, claimed that there are already hate crime and anti-masking laws in place.

But she said without the slightest bit of regret, the issue is the “lack of leadership” by police forces and politicians in Toronto and Ontario.

But her Conservative opponent, Roman Baber, contended — quite rightly — that the Liberal party has ruled anti-Semitism by voting last March for an arms embargo against Israel, for voting against settlements in the Occupied Territories at the UN and for giving $100-million to Gaza three days before Liberal leader Mark Carney called an election.

As recently as last week Carney said he agreed with the portrayal of what’s happening in Gaza as a genocide, adding that’s why they have an arms embargo in place.

He later claimed he’d misheard the comment from the audience.

Saks, who during the Freedom Convoy claimed that “honk, honk” was code for Heil Hitler and continues to insist to this day that neo-Nazis were involved, voted for the arms embargo.

She also came under intense scrutiny when she was pictured holding hands with Palestine Authority president, Mahmoud Abba,s in March of 2024.

In an often patronizing and arrogant tone, she told the 265 online viewers that she regrets that she didn’t communicate better with the Jewish community about her “incredible four days” in Ramallah where conversations were very “important.”

She never addressed the actual picture.

She also said she supports “bubble legislation” which protects synagogues and churches from protesters — although we never heard her actually advocate to put it in place.

Baber said there was an anti-Terrorism Act in place during Stephen Harper’s time in office, which made it a crime to engage in terrorist activity, but former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau repealed it.

He said the anti-masking laws are very limited and the hate laws are limited.

”My heart breaks for what is happening to the Jewish community,” he said. “Some members are afraid to wear their kippahs or to have mezuzahs on their doors.

”This has all been allowed to fester under the Liberal government,” he said, indicating that the Pierre Polievre government would increase penalties for wearing masks at protests and increase arrests of terrorist sympathizers.

”If we are able to deal with masks, many of the cowards will be afraid to protest,” he said.

He added that a Conservative government will “set a new tone” with law enforcement agencies to actually enforce the laws they do have.

”We will put an end to the lawlessness,” Baber said.

Saks, who got increasingly aggressive and personal with Baber the more he exposed her lack of support for the Jewish community, kept accusing him of “disinformation” and “misinformation.”

She repeated those words at least half a dozen times in a condescending tone.