Majority of Canadians fear about relations between Jews and Muslims in wake of Israel-Hamas battle

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Broad swathes of Canadians are involved in regards to the relationship between the nation’s Jewish and Muslim communities, in accordance with a brand new ballot.

The survey carried out by Leger for the Affiliation for Canadian Research discovered fifty-five per cent of Canadians fear about relationships between Jews and Muslims in Canada, and 50 per cent fear about the best way Muslims work together with non-Muslims.

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“Persons are framing the battle between Israel and Hamas as domestically implying severely strained relations between Muslims and Jews domestically and a few protests are reinforcing that impression,” mentioned Jack Jedwab, president of the Affiliation for Canadian Research.

The ballot was carried out on the finish of October, weeks after Hamas terrorists attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,400 folks, principally civilians, together with ladies and kids. In response, Israel declared battle towards Hamas, which has ruled the Gaza Strip since 2006, and launched a marketing campaign of airstrikes towards the 365-square-kilometre territory.

Gaza’s well being ministry, which is run by the Hamas authorities, says greater than 10,000 folks have been killed, together with 4,000 kids, however these numbers couldn’t be independently verified.

The Israel-Hamas battle has impressed pro-Palestinian rallies throughout Canada, lots of which have featured audio system celebrating the assault on Israel as a type of resistance or calling for the eradication of the State of Israel.

The polling reveals that 67 per cent of Canadians aged 55 or older fear about relations between Jews and Muslims, in comparison with simply 43 per cent of these 18 to 34. The considerations are highest in British Columbia (58 per cent), adopted by 56 per cent in Alberta and 54 per cent in all different provinces.

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Canadians are additionally involved about hate speech directed in direction of Jews in conventional media and on social media, with 27 per cent saying they felt Jews have been the goal of hate expression within the nation.

These over the age of 55, at 31 per cent, have been most probably to have believed Jews have been topic to hateful feedback within the media, in comparison with simply 17 per cent between the ages of 18 and 34.

“Clearly, that’s associated to the battle occurring within the area,” mentioned Jedwab. “Individuals form of have their antenna up. And that’s what they’re seeing throughout media, each social media and conventional media.”

1 / 4 of Canadians additionally fear about hate speech directed in direction of Palestinians.

Thirty-one per cent of these within the youngest age cohort felt hate speech in direction of Palestinians was prevalent, in comparison with 18 per cent of these over the age of 55.

“Often, youthful folks see extra hate expression on media,” mentioned Jedwab.

Nonetheless, simply 9 per cent of Canadians imagine they’ve seen hate expression directed in direction of Muslims or Islam, and solely three per cent recognized hate expression directed in direction of Arabs extra broadly.

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However there’s nonetheless wide-ranging worry of Islam in Canada, and the destructive views are by way more prevalent in Quebec.

Forty per cent of Canadians maintain a destructive view of Islam, though simply 26 per cent maintain destructive views of Canadian Muslims themselves. This non secular intolerance is extra pronounced for Islam: Solely 27 per cent maintain a destructive view of Christians and 20 per cent maintain a destructive view of Judaism.

These figures, Jedwab mentioned, have remained comparatively constant over time.

Quebec is probably the most illiberal province in terms of destructive views of Islam (57 per cent) and Canadian Muslims (34 per cent), Judaism (30 per cent) and Canadian Jews (19 per cent). British Columbia, at 38 per cent, holds Islam and Christians in equal contempt.

Some considerations stay about the best way immigrants and non-immigrants work together with each other, with 45 per cent saying they’re fearful. Notably, younger Canadians are most involved about this (50 per cent), whereas these aged 35 to 54 have been least fearful, at 40 per cent.

The survey additionally requested about Canadians’ views of a number of ethnic teams.

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Simply over one quarter of Canadians have a destructive view of Muslims, whereas 12 per cent view Jews unfavourably. Almost one-fifth of Canadians maintain destructive views of Indigenous Peoples, whereas 12 per cent have destructive views of Black Canadians.

Nonetheless, regardless of these views, the majority of hate speech that individuals say they’ve seen has to do with Israel and Palestinians. Jedwab mentioned it could be that individuals are solely expressing their views publicly as a result of battle.

“Chances are you’ll really feel negatively in direction of a specific group, however to what extent does that negativity being activated otherwise you’re performing upon it by expressing that sentiment through social media or different types of media?” mentioned Jedwab. “However at current, that sentiment will not be what we’re seeing expressed. … It doesn’t imply it’s not on the market — it’s. It’s simply not the, within the present context, it’s not what individuals are seeing.”

The Leger survey was carried out between Oct. 27 and 29 through an online panel of 1,632 Canadians. A margin of error can’t be related to a panel survey, however, for comparability functions, a similar-sized likelihood pattern would have a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 per cent, 19 instances out of 20.

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