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If the President errs in his understanding of the situation, we could all – Canada, the US and the entire free world, including Israel – suffer unspeakable horrors.

About 30 people braved the very cold and snowy streets of Toronto to protest in front of the American consulate last Tuesday immediately following Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the United States Congress. Many had come directly from hearing a live broadcast of Netanyahu speaking organized for the community by Meir Weinstein of the Jewish Defense League at the Zionist Centre uptown.

The group, calling themselves: Concerned Canadians Against Nuclear Iran, (CCANI) wanted to send the message of alarm at the possible eventuality of seeing Iran achieve nuclear armament, seeing it as an existential threat to Israel as Iran has vowed the destruction of the Jewish state many times over. They also wanted to applaud Netanyahu’s steadfast resolve to make sure that Israel’s cautionary voice was heard by the government of the United States.

Speakers included Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak; Michael Baigel and Vivienne Ziner who were the main organizers of the event; Renanah Goldhar Gemeiner, Judith Shier Weisberg and Eton Ziner-Cohen. Mirza Ismail, Chairman of the Yazidi International Human Rights Association, was in attendance, and the rally had the support of Donna Holbrook of International Christian Embassy – Jerusalem as well as many other groups and individuals.

The CCANI banner showed the flag of Iran with the radiation symbol superimposed above as well as a large X. A letter and petition were also presented to US Ambassador Bruce Heyman and Consul General James Dickmeyer via the consulate in Toronto. The letter read in part:

“We believe that the US has an obligation to be supremely cautious. We have seen the Obama administration make many mistakes that have had fatal repercussions such as: Benghazi, the rise of ISIL, the sectarian violence in Iraq, Libya and other countries. It is therefore imperative that decisions be preceded not only by a transparent knowledge of Iran’s nuclear capabilities but also without any naivety about its intentions.

“…if the President errs in his understanding of the situation, we could all – Canada, the US and the entire free world, including Israel – suffer unspeakable horrors.

“History has taught us that when tyrants and dictators threaten to kill and destroy – as has Iran many times over – we must take them seriously. The risk is just too great to trust them now.”

 

Article by Toby Trompeter

Toby Trompeter is a communications consultant and freelance writer currently living in Toronto. She has written for several publications, including the Globe and Mail and Jerusalem Post. Toby's heart is still in Jerusalem, where for 18 years she studied, worked and started a family. She maintains a Facebook page called: Zero Tolerance for AntiSemitism. Find her on Twitter @lobbychampion