National Commitments to Combat Antisemitism - Summer 2026
Summary of Progress
Pillar 1 Snapshot: Understanding antisemitism
Activities underway
- Continued promotion and use of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) Working Definition of Antisemitism and the Canadian Handbook.
- Collection of data pertaining to current antisemitism in Canada.
- Ongoing training initiatives for police, prosecutors, educators, and public servants.
- Continued support for Holocaust education, public awareness activities, and research.
- Efforts to promote a more consistent approach to identifying and discussing antisemitism across institutions.
Intended outcome
Institutions across Canada have increased access to tools, guidance, and training to support the recognition, understanding and response to contemporary manifestations of antisemitism, including anti-Zionism, as outlined in the Canadian Handbook on the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism.
Opposition from the Jewish Organizations
Last week, Public Safety Canada tried to quietly redefine anti-Zionism as antisemitic. This marks the first time the Canadian government has explicitly stated that anti-Zionism — the rejection of Jewish settler-colonialism in Palestine and belief that Palestinians deserve dignity and safety like all other people — is a form of bigoted hatred against Jews. We know that this definition isn’t only wrong, it’s dangerous.
We need to make it clear that Canadians from all walks of life disagree.
The fact that this report was issued by Public Safety Canada is especially concerning, as it is intended to have a direct impact on how Palestine solidarity is policed in Canada. This distortion of what antisemitism is further paves a path for the criminalization of anti-Zionist protest and expression.
It is crucial that we do not let Canada redefine antisemitism to silence voices that speak out against Zionism and the ongoing atrocities being committed under its ideological banner.
This move by the Canadian government is a grave warning for any Canadian who cares about freedom of expression and the right to protest the ongoing genocide being committed by Israel.
Add your voice to our demands that Canada:
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Clarify that anti-Zionism is not a form of antisemitism;
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acknowledge the harm that conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism does to Palestinian and Jewish communities; and
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affirm the legitimacy of anti-Zionism as part of political debate and criticism concerning Palestine and Israel.
We know how important it is that anti-Zionism not be confused with antisemitism. When Israel is committing a genocide live-streamed in front of the whole world every day, and when real antisemitism is rising as part of right-wing extremism, it is crucial that we be able to clearly differentiate these two forces, as we fight for a better world for all peoples.
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[1] Progress Report - National Commitments to Combat Antisemitism - Summer 2026
