Poll Results Amidst an Anti-Israel Propaganda War

"The reality is that it's a very complex issue and of course complex opinions will emerge about these issues. The conclusion I came to was that most Canadians still have shared values when it comes to compassion and empathy."

"Canadians do have compassion for both sides and are aware of the complexity of the conflict."

There's some political danger in taking any stand on this issue right now for most politicians, and any world leaders, quite frankly."

"I think it's a very difficult political question to answer [calling for a ceasefire]."

Quito Maggi, president, CEO, Mainstreet Research

A ZAKA volunteer collects human remains in a house at Kibbutz Holit near the Gaza Strip on October 26, 2023. (YURI CORTEZ / AFP)

For the past month news media have regaled their readers with descriptions and photographs of the many 'pro-Palestinian' rallies and protests and marches that have broken out all over Canadian cities. They're described as 'peaceful', but it took no more than a day to launch the first protest, following the merciless rampage of Hamas terrorists through towns and villages of southern Israel, launching a widespread bloodbath of families, gang-rapes of girls and women and the abduction of over 240 civilians. Over 1,400 innocent infants, children, women and men, the elderly and infirm were slaughtered along with Israeli soldiers.

 

Despite the deadly carnage and the horrific videos taken of the atrocities that the terrorists were so proud of committing that they were eager to document them for posterity, crowds of Canadian Muslims and Palestinians joined by other Jew-haters professing to be concerned over the plight of Gazan Palestinians, celebrated the 'victory' by Hamas over Israel. In some of these demonstrations "gas the Jews" was chanted, and in almost all of them "Palestine will be free, from the river to the sea" rang out, a proxy for the destruction of Israel.

 

The impression was that the protests reflected the opinion of mainstreet Canada, given the numbers that came out to join them. Students for Justice in Palestine, a virulently antisemitic activist group has been working overtime organizing the protests. Some Canadian Imams, known for their hate-filled sermons on Fridays, extolling the virtues of martyrdom in the interests of jihad, have gone out of their way to promote the protests and calling for the end of the state of Israel. 

So how does the average Canadian feel about the fact that antisemitism has risen  higher, faster and become more violent in the past month as a result of these slanderous and dangerous fulminations against Israel and by extension Canadian Jews who have been threatened on campuses of Canadian colleges and universities, where some of their professors have markedly joined the anti-Israel fray?

Polling conducted by Mainstreet Research for the National Council of Canadian Muslims has delved into the matter and come up with some interesting statistics. Basically, that a majority of Canadians are in favour of the support that Canada is giving to Israel, responding to the terrorist group Hamas' ongoing lethal attacks against Israeli citizens. Most respondents to the poll classified Hamas as a terrorist group.

 

Smoke rises from an explosion caused by Israeli airstrikes on the border between Egypt and Rafah, Gaza Strip, Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Hatem Ali)

 

A strong majority of Canadians hold the belief that the Canadian government should call for a ceasefire to protect Palestinian civilians, even while 75 percent of Canadians conceive of Hamas (33 percent) or Iran (42 percent) being responsible for the October 7 attack in Israel, for a total of 75 percent. 76 percent of Canadians classify Hamas as a terrorist organization while 9 percent see it as an Iran proxy; and 8 percent consider Hamas to be 'freedom fighters'.

Generally, 71 percent support Canada calling for a ceasefire, but 81 percent say a ceasefire must begin with the return of the hostages taken by Hamas, and 18 percent oppose any calls for a ceasefire. Given a choice, 68 percent feel the conflict priority should be the protection of Palestinian Gazan civilians, ensuring humanitarian aid reaches them.  32 percent feel that retaliation against Hamas should remain the priority, and 59 percent approve of Canada's support for Israel (18 percent disapproving).

Canada's official position from the prime minister's office, is that Israel has the "right to defend itself in accordance with international law"; Canada agreeing that Hamas must immediately release all hostages.

 

Healthcare workers stand at University Avenue and Gerrard Street in Toronto asking the International Committee of the Red Cross to provide healthcare to the Israeli hostages taken by Hamas terrorists to Gaza as the Israel Palestine war continues, Thursday November 9, 2023. Photo by Photo Peter J. Thompson/National Post /jpg

Among the Highlights:

• The survey revealed that an overwhelming majority of Canadians are aware of the conflict (93%) with the majority following it very or somewhat closely (60%). About one third are not following it closely.
• As to who is responsible for the current conflict 41% blame Hamas while 12% blame Israel according to the survey results.
• Of note is that nearly two thirds (62%) of Canadians have not changed their opinion of Israel, while only less than a third (26%) had a worsened opinion of Israel, and 12% say their view of Israel improved. As a result of the Hamas attack 46% of Canadians say their view of Hamas and the leadership of the Palestinians in Gaza has become less supportive.
• Most Canadians (60%) agree that Israel should invade Gaza and remove the Hamas leadership.
• Three quarters (75%) of Canadians do not believe that Hamas was justified in attacking Israel as part of their struggle for a Palestinian State.
• More than two thirds of Canadians (71%) believe Iran should be held accountable for the actions of Hamas against Israel.
• Canadians (57%) are expressing their concern over the pro-Hamas protest taking place in Canada.
• Almost half of Canadians (46%) feel that antisemitism is on the rise in Canada