Choosing Your Neighbours

"The University administration has been communicating with protest organizers since it began, and we continue to convey our expectations to them to ensure a peaceful and lawful protest."

"Our priority remains upholding the rights of students, professors and staff to be safe and respected."

"The safety and well-being of all members of our community and [to] allow them to move around freely on our campuses will see the university continue to act in accordance with its policies and regulations]."

"Incitement to violence, threats, harassment, intimidation, damage or occupation of buildings will carry consequences."

Jess Robichaud, spokesperson, University of Ottawa

"As we have continuously reiterated, our focus will remain on the genocide of Gaza and we expect that the university responds to our demands for divestment promptly."

Integrity Not Spite Against Falastin

"We must ensure that members of the Jewish community -- and all residents of our city -- can gather whenever they choose to do so in safety, and free from intimidation and fear."

"We must continue to support our Jewish community, which is experiencing increasingly higher levels of antisemitism. Let's all work together to ensure our city is safe and free from violence and racism in all its forms."

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

"Today's ceremony [Israel's Independence Day -- Yom Ha'atzmaut] sends a clear message: the Jewish community has the right to celebrate its culture and history, just like all other communities in Canada. Hate will not erase our community or any other."

"Since its inception, the raising of the flags of the many nations with which Canada shares diplomatic ties, has always been a time for the Jewish community to come together and stand proudly, without fear."

"The landscape this year looks different, and it is disheartening."

"We hope that today signals the beginning of a shift away from hatred and extremism, and toward a future where all Canadians, all governments and police services stand with the Jewish community to ensure we can continue to live safely as proud Jewish Canadians."

Jewish Federation of Ottawa

People dressed in blue and white and waving Israeli flags, gathered in the plaza at Ottawa city hall on Tuesday to commemorate Israel’s independence, while pro-Palestinian protesters chanted in the background. Photo by Blair Crawford/POSTMEDIA

 

A week ago the city advised that plans for a ceremony that usually accompanies the raising of the flag of the State of Israel in recognition of its Independence Day, would proceed and end with the flag. The annual ceremony was to be cancelled in view of police concerns that violence would erupt from the same sources that have marched through the streets of Canada and virtually shut down universities, while excoriating Israel and Jews for the Israeli military response in Gaza to the earlier October 7 massacre by terrorist Hamas in southern Israel of Jewish men, women and children.

On that occasion the Mayor of Ottawa spoke of his "disappointment" with the decision, urging Ottawa Police and the Jewish Federation to consider a workable plan where the day could be marked in safety. That original decision was reversed a day later, with the ceremony to proceed along with the raising of the Israeli flag. In preparation for a backlash by organized 'pro-Palestinian' supporters of the Hamas mass rape, mutilation and murder of Israeli girls, women and children, Ottawa Police Service officers were present, expecting to ensure that the Jewish celebration group and their Palestinian detractors were kept apart.

The City's security staff alongside other police officers patrolled inside city hall, while a drone hovered overhead. The first of the 'demonstrators' arrived to vilify the proceedings but not before the Israeli flag had been raised outside city hall. A banner reading "All Eyes on Gaza" conveyed the enraged expression over the event by those who came along to ensure that their bile at the joyous event for the Jewish population over a re-emerged historical homeland was noted by civic authorities.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israeli supporters were both on the front lawn of Ottawa City Hall after the city raised an Israeli flag on Tuesday. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

 

"Sutcliffe, Sutcliffe,you can't hide, You support genocide" was chanted by the crowd of well-wishers who have made Canada their home and in the process have demonstrated how unsuitable they are for membership as citizenry of a decent, law-abiding, self-respecting social order. A month earlier the Ottawa Police Service Hate and Bias Crime Unit had launched an investigation over a demonstrator chanting praise for the murderous attack by Hamas on October 7 in southern Israel.

The Jewish Federation of Ottawa conveyed its gratitude to the city mayor and the police for their openness to the re-enactment of the yearly respectful acknowledgement of Israel's Independence Day celebrations. For their part, the anti-Zionist, anti-Jew, anti-Israel, antisemitic crowd seeking to overwhelm the day's proceedings with their venom held signs equating the flag of Israel to that of Nazi Germany; the ultimate irony considering fascist Germany's genocide against Europe's Jews.

Among others within the protesters, chants erupted warning Jews to "go back to Europe". The stark civil differences between the two groups on full display. Never has a Jewish community organized hateful campaigns anywhere against other members of a nation's ethnic/religious group, committing instead to become part of the overall community in their worldwide diaspora, and to contribute to the entire national community's welfare.

The Palestinian, Arab, Muslim immigrants, refugees and migrants have largely emerged as a Jew-hating bloc that despite their possible differences in country of origin, sectarian divisions, tribe and culture, the sole issue they find common cause with is hatred of Jews, agreeing as a group to campaign against Jews in their adopted community, in occasionally violently hostile criminal acts, and certainly in joint actions leaving no doubt in anyone's mind that their acrimonious antipathy represents a brand of antisemitism immune to reasonable intelligence.

 

The very public clashes between the two groups; one taking pride in a nation for whom a return to Zion speaks of history, antecedents, culture, religion, heritage and Jewish tradition, the other viciously condemnatory, in full rejection of history and justice balancing wrongs righted to acknowledge an ancient injustice with the full spite of those who cannot stomach the reality of Jewish entitlements to history's legacy.

 

Jewish celebration of May 14, 1948 reflects pride in achievement and the presence of a national identity reborn. In contrast to Palestinian/Arab/Muslim resentment at that achievement that runs counter to Islam's injunction that land once consecrated to Islam -- stolen land included -- may never be permitted to return to its former identity; in this instance a Jewish state returned to its ancestral roots. 

 

And whereas Jews were overjoyed at the creation of the State of Israel, Arabs who call themselves Palestinians rejected outright the opportunity to establish their own state alongside that of Israel. That too is history. Resorting to deadly violence immediately on Israel's re-establshment, 'Palestinians' have relied upon their very special brand of lethal violence ever since, branching out to brand themselves as the world's premier 'victims' and establishing a remarkable propaganda campaign excelling at slandering Israel.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators and pro-Israeli supporters were both on the front lawn of Ottawa City Hall after the City raised an Israeli flag on Tuesday, May 14, 2024. Photo by Jean Levac /Postmedia

"From the river to the sea, Palestine is almost free! [shouted the demonstrators, along with] Globalize the Intifada [and] We don't want two states, take us back to '48!"

Israel's Independence Day counter-demonstrators

Reversing Drug Decriminalization in British Columbia

"Enough is enough. Common Sense Conservatives will not allow this devastation from this experiment to play out in other Canadian communities. Canadians deserve a government that will keep hard drugs out of hospitals and will protect staff and patients."

"Do British Columbians believe that someone should be allowed to smoke crack, meth and bring machetes into hospitals right next to patients who are trying to recover from cancer or a heart attack?"

"Or do they believe in my common sense approach that would ban the drugs, stop giving out tax-funded opioids and instead invest in treatment and recovery to bring our loved ones home drug-free?"

"The Safe Hospitals Act will stop some of the insanity that [Prime Minister Justin] Trudeau and the NDP have unleashed in our communities."

Pierre Poilievre, leader of the Parliamentary opposition Conservative Party, next Prime Minister of Canada 

Fentanyl is pictured during the first day of decriminalization of drugs in British Columbia on Jan. 31, 2023. The B.C. government is now significantly rolling back the pilot following months of public pressure and concerns over public safety. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

 

The leader of Canada's official opposition party in the House of Commons has committed to bringing into law a bill his party is set to introduce to prevent drug decriminalization "insanity", a year-old experiment in the Province of British Columbia that has resulted in a wild frenzy of public recreational drug use without penalty under the law, where drugs proliferate, endanger the lives of new young users when freely available government-sponsored drugs meant to wean addicts away from more dangerous opioids are being sold in the streets so the recipients of the free drugs can buy fentanyl.

The Safe Hospital Act set to be presented in Parliament would ensure that no exemptions are granted under the Controlled Drug and Substances Act in response to a phenomenon where hospital staff in British Columbia are advised they must not confiscate drugs brought into hospitals by addicts admitted for health care, nor the weapons they may also bring with them; to be regarded as 'personal effects' and left in the possession of those patients. Open drug use in those hospitals now runs rampant, and so do incidents of violence.

Bill C-321 includes a sentencing aggravating factor against assaults committed by those patients against health-care workers or first responders, along with tougher punishment should a weapon be brought into a hospital by a criminal. The situation in British Columbia has engendered a backlash of opposition and outrage from British Columbians, to the extent that the provincial premier of the NDP government, David Eby, sought a reversal of the approval he was granted last year for decriminalization.

That reversal would return the status quo to once more make public drug use illegal in public spaces; in effect the decriminalization pilot project has been an abysmal failure. The health and safety of nurses, hospital staff and other patients were placed at risk by patients openly using drugs across the province's hospitals. A leaked memorandum reflected the situation that nurses in the Northern Health Region where nurses were ordered not to confiscate patients' belongings including drugs of weapons.

In the wake of British Columbia's attempts at decriminalization, the City of Toronto requested a similar exemption in forwarding an application for decriminalizing small amounts of hard drugs. Ontario's Premier Doug Ford is adamantly hostile to granting the now-two-year-old-and-waiting request by Toronto. And the federal government has made it clear that without the support of the provincial government to permit this exception for Toronto, permission would be withheld.

In 2021 Montreal too passed a motion calling on the federal government to decriminalize certain drugs. Accidental deaths caused by the powerful fentanyl used to lace other drugs and sold on the street have harvested the lives of far too many drug users, to the extent the deaths have become a national emergency looking for avenues of deterrence.

A safe injection site in Vancouver, where drugs will still be permitted following the ban. Photograph: Christopher Morris/Corbis/Getty Images

Canine Life Satisfaction

"There's so much variation in what dogs might need. Not all domestic dogs are necessarily better off or happier with [the presence of] other dogs."

"Dogs are social animals [however]."

"It is somewhat debilitating, and not good for their health and well-being, to not have close social partners."

Noah Snyder-Mackler, associate professor, Arizona State University, school of life sciences

 

It's well enough known that social interaction plays an important role in ensuring that humans' emotional fulfillments are met and well balanced, for we are gregarious creatures, requiring interaction with others to fulfill an obligation and psychological need for social cohesion. The canine community can be viewed as similarly gregarious by and large, although like humans, dogs too have a wide range of needs and requirements to remain emotionally balanced and experience satisfaction in their lives.

 

Dr. Snyder-Mackler ran a study in hopes of establishing just exactly what kind of social interaction is needed to ensure physical and mental health in dogs. The result of his study was published in the journal Evolution, Medicine, and Public Health, outlining the conclusion reached through the study interviews and analyses that social companionship (of both the canine and human variety) has a major impact on a dog's health and lifespan. 

The study surveyed guardians of over 22,000 dogs relating to various aspects of their companion pet's life; whether the presence of another dog in the household provided each with a companion; the extent and quality of their physical activity and health, among other details. Pet parents provided information about themselves as well, and the researchers made use of the data in their determination of five key factors influencing a dog's social environment. 

They were: 

1. Neighbourhood stability;
2. Total Household income;
3. Social time with adults and children;
4. Social time with animals;
5. Pet-parent age.

Of the points involved it was social companionship from adult humans along with other dogs noted to have the largest positive impact on a dog's physical and mental health, as they aged. Five times greater in impact, in fact, than any other factor under consideration. According to Dr. Snyder-Mackler, the study results did not necessarily indicate that adopting a second dog in the household would improve the quality of the first dog's circumstances impacting its life.

 

Human interaction with their pets can be equally important (and for some dogs, better) social partners for their dogs reflecting the reality that every animal has a unique personality, and not all dogs tend to relish the company of their canine peers. Strong social companionship is what results in an overall positive effect on a dog's health and well-being. Dr. Silver too, notes that a dog's social needs can be met by their human, all the more so if that human spends dedicated one-on-one time with them. 

Intraspecies companionship and play behaviours for some dogs are derived from direct companionship with other dogs not replicated by interactions with humans. There are methods, on the other hand, in providing companionship and cognitive enrichment opportunities -- that include long sniff-fixated walks, engaging in training sessions, or playing together episodically through the day -- as long as the dog's daily needs are met regularly.

 

"When there's something that's missing from a dog's routine, we see this manifest in terms of 'misbehaviour' or anxiety-related responses."

"And it's not always obvious what the source of those might be."

"There's all kinds of ways that you can give your dog the types of experiences that they need to be happy. And for some people, that might exist outside the scope of direct interactions with other animals."

Zachary Silver, assistant professor of psychology, Occidental College

Coping With Runaway Car Theft

"If  you're shameless enough to prey on other members of the community for your own reckless gain then  you'll lose that privilege [to own a valid driver's license]."

"We've seen ... in Manitoba, that they have implemented something similar with a five-year suspension." 

"The [Ontario] Highway Traffic Act has instances where you can lose your license for life as well."

"It's about sending a strong message to people in this province that we're taking this seriously. We're doing everything we can under the provision of the provincial government to come down tough on those ... who decide to break the law."

Ontario Transportation Minister Prabmeet Sarkaria

This is a still image of surveillance camera video of a high end car theft in action. The Ontario government will introduce legislation that would suspend the driving licences of convicted auto thieves. (Supplied)

In the province of Ontario a vehicle is stolen every14 minutes. A 78 percent increase in violent carjackings has taken place in the past three years. The phenomenon of vehicle theft costs the province a yearly $1.2 billion. Compelling the province to attempt to enact a new law that would be as painful to the carjacking perpetrators as their actions have been to the owners of the vehicles and the provincial government.

 

A ten-year license suspension would apply in the event of a conviction of theft (any other penalty such as fines and jail time added to the suspension). In the event of a second such offence, an additional 15-year ban on driving would apply. A lifetime suspension would reflect the penalty of a third similar offence. The new law is set to be introduced imminently to the Ontario legislature, in the hope that the stringent new penalties will stem the tide of auto thefts.

At present, driving with a suspended license could earn a car thief a $5,000 fine along with six months' incarceration. Ontario, according to the province's solicitor general, has been appealing to the federal government to enact minimum sentencing rules for car theft. Inspections of outgoing cargo from Canada, particularly at the Port of Montreal, where recently hundreds of stolen vehicles were  apprehended from leaving the country, should be increased in an effort to keep stolen vehicles from being shipped out of Canada to points abroad.

"This is something the federal government can do today if they want to do, and we're calling them to do just that", emphasized Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. The question was raised during a news conference: "Where's the incentive for the manufacturers to make a car that can't be stolen with a $200 online key fob duplicator?"

A complicating issue is that auto-vehicle theft gangs employ young thugs to perform the actual thefts. It would then be the young thieves who would face conviction in a court of law, and pay the penalty for their crimes, while the criminal syndicates and their heads face no such penalties unless they can be linked to the thefts. It has also been noted that the profits from the sales of the stolen vehicles are then used to prop up the real purpose of the gangs' actions; smuggling of arms and ammunition into Canada.

One of the lines in this year's budget targets a growing crisis in Ontario and across the country. Auto thefts have skyrocketed in recent years with the element of violence also increasing.   CBC

Surprise, Violent Intimidation Works! Jews Need Not Apply...

"For Judaism, the Menorah was chosen over the Star of David due to its purely religious significance, while the Star of David carries political connotations with the State of Israel."

York Region School Board

 

"When the theatre received some threatening phone calls and letters over renting their venue to the Hamilton Jewish Federation for a Jewish cultural film festival, instead of standing up to the hate, they caved to it."

Judy Zelikovitz, Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs

 

"[The Exhibition had] got a complaint from a group of Vancouver artists who didn't think I should be showing because of the war in Israel and Gaza..."

"She told me they were fearful of being vandalized."

Dina Goldstein, Vancouver art photographer

 

It's open season on disinvitations going out to artists of every form of expression in Canada if they're Jewish, have an Israeli background, empathize with the victims of October 7's rapist dream, even if the art they produce is met with public acclaim for its innovative aesthetic, and presents as authentically unique. The world was treated to a dramatic hate-fest in the recently concluded Eurovision Song Contest when the Israeli entrant in the event held in Sweden was met by mobs who demanded the exclusion of Israeli singer Eden Golan, and other contestants disavowed her eligibility to compete, as an Israeli. 

 

In the final analysis, though she was unmercifully hounded by ravening detractors, requiring a large detail of police protection, she was declared fit to compete and did her country proud. Her vote-expressed popularity by the greater popular vote from the television audience accounting for half the score's total, saw Israel at second place, which ended up balancing the total score which brought a fifth place win to Eden Golan, overturning the contest judges' low approval count. Justice righted injustice in that instance.

Closer to home for the Canadian public, Dina Goldstein, a Vancouver photographer whose Dollhouse photo series staged through a series of tableaus of whimsy featuring domestic scenes using actors representing a Barbie-and-Ken spin-off pair that held a large public appeal, was cancelled for inclusion in an exhibition at the Vancouver Centre of International Contemporary Art. Born in Tel Aviv, organizers of the exhibit, citing fears of vandalism cancelled the appearance of her art. 

In The Dollhouse    Art Mur

 

Jewish holidays are denoted by the York Regional District School Board with an icon of a menorah. Holidays of other religions are marked with representative symbols such as a cross for Christians, and the star and crescent for Islamic holidays. Administrators had avoided using the Star of David for Jewish holidays although it is Judaism's traditional symbol, for fear of alienating non-Jews, and reminding students of its link to Israel. A public backlash convinced the school board to change to the Star of David.

Non-Jewish playwright Christopher Morris who wrote The Runner -- the story of an Israeli volunteer paramedic attending the aftermath of a terror attack, deciding to treat the suspected Palestinian perpetrator instead of her Israeli victim -- which had enjoyed great acclaim for its "accessible yet poignant conduit for audiences to better understand the people and the fractured lives that are to be found in the fissures of this heightened political and social division", which failed to save it from the ignominy of cancellation.

The Belfry Theatre in Victoria, British Columbia faced a strong backlash when it decided to capitulate to protesters who had vandalized the venue with "Free Palestine" stickers and graffiti in their 'cultural boycott' of any performance art that had the even remotest link to Israel. Despite that the petition presented to the Belfry to recant the cancellation had far more signatures that the petition that demanded the play's cancellation, they upheld the cancellation justifying it by claiming the play "Does not ensure the well-being of all segments of our community."

 

The Playhouse Cinema in Hamilton had agreed to host a three-day Hamilton Jewish Film Festival in early April. Three weeks prior to the festival's start, the festival was informed they would not, after all, be welcome in view of "safety and security concerns at this particularly sensitive time", citing "numerous security and safety related emails, phone calls, and social media messages" targeting the Playhouse Cinema. Israeli filmmaker Yahav Winner, (murdered by Hamas on October 7)'s The Boy was to have been screened.

Leah Goldstein in 2005. Photo by Mark van Manen/Vancouver Sun

In Peterborough, Ontario, an International Women's Day event was to have featured cyclist Leah Goldstein  who had three years earlier become the first woman to win the solo category of the gruelling endurance Race Across America. Pre-event promotions had featured the address by this award-winning cyclist who planned to describe her life story of overcoming 'bullies, sexism, and terrorism'. She was cancelled for the sin of having been born in Canada, but raised in Israel.

Massive international pressure overturned a decision by the International Ice Hockey Federation to cancel the Israeli national team which had some Canadian players on board because, they were informed, their safety could not be guaranteed at the arena in Bulgaria where the tournament was located close to a "large student population from the affected areas in the Middle East". Although their decision was reversed, for future tournaments the IIHF has crossed Israel off the roster even though Israel swept the tournament, winning gold.

International Ice Hockey Federation

 

 

Flotation Therapy For a Multitude of Body and Mental Health Benefits

"It calms the mind, sharpens our sense of the body and helps us live in the moment -- all of which can break the cycle of negative thoughts."

"Floating might shift attention away from how the body looks to how it feels, promoting a healthier body image."

Sahib Khalsa, principal investigator, clinical director, Laureate Institute for Brain Research, Tulsa

 

"Is there something special about flotation, or not?

"Maybe you're just in a very relaxing environment, so  how unique is it compared to other relaxation techniques we have?"

Wen Chen, National Institutes of Health, branch chief, basic and mechanistic research, complementary and integrative health 

"Floating has been referred to as 'sensory deprivation', which I think is a misnomer."

"[On the contrary, patients have reported] enhancement [of internal sensations during flotation, such as noticing their breath and heartbeat]."

Justin Feinstein, director, president, Float Research Collective

Group4 Studio / Getty Images

Basically, flotation therapy, recently popularized as a relaxation technique that can lead to improved mental health, involves floating in a tank of warm-salt-saturated water. A growing body of research appears to validate the belief the therapy may reduce symptoms of mental health conditions. Float tank sessions take about an hour with a typical experience seeing people enter the pod that looks like an oversized hot tub that is filled with shallow body-temperature water saturated with Epsom salts to buoy the body.

The pod can be left open, alternatively the lid closed to give the impression of being cocooned where light and sound is shut out. According to experts in the field, float therapy appears to operate on several levels to heighten the senses, help in relaxation, leading to the body and mind feeling soothed. "It's become like a ritual. You unwind, and you begin to see life differently, from a more distanced perspective", explained 27-year-old Abby Michel, for whom floating on a regular basis has become "an important tool in the tool box", in the management of her anxiety.

There are studies indicating that float therapy may reduce symptoms of a number of conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder, depression and anxiety. Lowering blood pressure is another benefit of the therapy along with a decrease in muscular soreness following high-intensity exercise. As well, according to preliminary research, the therapy may serve to minimize cravings of addiction-related illnesses.

Brain and time perception researcher Marc Wittmann, based in Freiberg, Germany, views the experience as being akin to meditation. "During meditation, you feel that you lose your body boundaries and you are more one with the environment", he explained of his experience with the use of float tanks for his research. The dissolving sense of one's body is correlated, he states, with lower anxiety,  according to his own research.Evidently the therapy has properties that are able to enhance a biological process called "interoception", defined as the process by which the nervous system "senses, interprets and integrates" signals from the body.

Some researchers study whether flotation therapy can be of assistance to people with eating disorders; an NIH-funded study, recruiting patients at present, is set to investigate how augmenting float therapy with interoception-focused psychotherapy can improve anxiety and body image in patients suffering from anorexia nervosa. A randomized controlled trial of 68 women and girls hospitalized for anorexia led researchers to report twice-weekly float sessions improved patients' levels of body dissatisfaction.

According to one estimate, growing consumer demand has led to the opening of nearly 400 float centres in the United States, an increase from 50 in 2010, with costs from $50 to $100 each 60- or 90-minute session. With the newer float centres, people can look forward to accompanying calming music and soft lighting as well as less claustrophobic pools, more related to open-style hot tubs. The therapy offers profound relief for some individuals.

Float Seattle

"The float tank helped me to take a break from the real world, a break from my body for a little bit."

"Before, I'd hear the eating disorder voice, the diet commercial voice, the influencer who lost weight voice, the dad trauma voice."

"In the float tank, I could hear my own voice."

Emily Noran, 28, San Diego

Kharkiv Threatened

"Active combat is ongoing in the settlements located one to two kilometres away from the border with Russia."

"We clearly understand what forces the enemy is using in the north of our territory. Certainly, the escalation can grow, the pressure can increase, it can strengthen its military units, its military presence."

"As of now the enemy keeps pressing in the north of our region. Our forces have repelled nine attacks."

Kharkiv Regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov 

"It is important that partners support our soldiers and Ukrainian stability with timely supplies."

"Really timely. The package that really helps is the weapons brought to Ukraine, not just the ones announced."

"Disrupting Russian offensive plans is now our number one task."

"[Troops must] return the initiative to Ukraine. Every air-defence system, every anti-missile system is literally what saves lives."

"It is important that our partners support our soldiers and Ukrainian resilience with timely deliveries — really timely ones."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian volunteers evacuate residents from settlements in the north of the Kharkiv region on May 10 amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Sergey Bobok / AFP

Mired deep in conflict with Russian forces seeking to take full advantage of the shortage of armaments faced by Ukraine given the holdup in critical materiel promised by its European and North American supporters and suppliers, Ukrainian forces still manage to put the Kremlin on its back foot regularly.

Air defences in Russia, according to the Russian Defence Ministry, shot down seven Ukrainian drones in the Moscow, Bryansk and Belgorod regions, showing that Ukraine is still managing to penetrate Russia's interior with its armed drones. 

Despite that Ukraine's home-grown drones face problems in manufacturing related to Moscow's targeting of Kyiv's energy networks which invariably and inevitably impact on its production capabilities. The Friday shoot-down in Russia of the Ukrainian drones followed a deeper strike into Russia by Ukraine of the day before when a petro-chemical facility was hit. Ukraine's repeated targeting of refineries purposed to disrupt Putin's war machine is not particularly popular with the Kremlin.

Ukraine has been forced by circumstances to rush reinforcements to the Kharkiv region as Russian forces attempt to breach local defences; a tactical switch by Moscow, expected by Ukrainian officials. Intense overnight shelling targeted Vovchansk, less than five kilometres from the border with Russia. Powerful guided aerial bombs, artillery, rockets, tanks and mortars led to the evacuation of about 3,000 people from a town whose prewar population was about 20,000.

The assault could represent the  beginning of an attempt by the Russian military, according to Russian military bloggers, to carve a "buffer zone" to put a stop to frequent attacks by Ukraine on Belgorod and other Russian border regions, a move promised earlier in the  year by President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine deployed reserve units to fend off the attack of Russian infantry. Russian assembly of thousands of troops along the north-eastern border close to the Khakiv and Sumy regions had been noted by Ukraine.

"Now there is a fierce battle in this direction", stated President Zelenskyy.

While it isn't likely that Russian would commit the required troop buildup and armour to capture Kharkiv, its actions could force Ukraine to assemble more troops to head to the region, that move of necessity leaving other areas of the country vulnerable. Key supply routes in the area could motivate the Russian military to attempt a blockade of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, home to about 1.1 million people, located a mere 30 km south of the border.

Ukraine's well-known acute shortages of manpower and ammunition in the wake of a disruption of the flow of Western and European military aid has prompted the Russian military to exploit the situation before the promised new shipments arrive. "Not all of our partners are currently fulfilling the agreements in a timely manner", President Zelenskyy had remonstrated, a complaint alerting the Kremlin to the strain of coping with shortages that Ukraine is dealing with.

Along the 10,000-km front line the Ukrainian military is on the defensive, desperately building fortified defensive lines in expectation of facing a larger Russian offensive where Ukrainian forces are outnumbered in infantry, armour and ammunition. "The entire town is under massive shelling now. It is not safe to stay here", Vovchansk administration head Tamaz Hambarishvili reported to Ukraine's Hromadske Radio, while fighting against Russian sabotage and reconnaissance groups was reported by the Ukrainian Defence Ministry.

A rescuer finishes extinguishing a fire at the site of a Russian strike on a residential building in Kharkiv. Photograph: Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images

Refusing to Capitulate to the Howling Mob

Officials gather to mark Israel's Day of Independence at Ottawa City Hall in this 2014 file photograph. Photo by Chris Mikula /The Ottawa Citizen

"The shameless Zionists along with disgraceful city council members are planning to raise the genocide flag in city hall to commemorate the 76 years of occupation, land theft, Zionist terrorism and injustice."

"Genocide Mark has REVERSED the cancellation of the disgusting zionist flag raising ceremony ON NAKBA DAY‼️ The flag raising will be followed up by a “celebration” at noon😐 and it is all being veiled under the disguise of Judaism… So since they follow our page & see what we post, we would like to once again reiterate; JUDAISM YES✅ ZIONISM NO🚫"

"Join us as we raise the honourable Palestinian flag & shed light what the zionist occupation’s “independence” really means‼️"

"A lot of politicians will be in attendance & a lot of zionists will be waving their disgusting flag & celebrating… So email your MP, city councillors or any elected official & let them know that we WILL be naming & shaming any and all politicians taking part in their event."

Ottawa4Palestine

Several days earlier, Ottawa City Hall announced that after much deliberation and no doubt mulling over the threats issued by 'pro-Palestinian'-Hamas groups such as Ottawa4Palestine and in the interests of public safety and security there would be no ceremony accompanying the raising of the Israeli flag as has been the practise for decades. "The City must prioritize the safety of its residents,visitors, and employees", the message read with the additional notation that people should not come out to celebrate at the venue, ostensibly in fear of violence erupting.

Since that declaration of intent and the decision that was reached -- disappointing the Ottawa Jewish community, under duress by the municipality's larger Arab/Muslim population many of whom are disposed to blaming Israel for the conflict that has ensued between Israel and Gaza as a result of the Hamas terrorist group having invaded southern Israel on October 7 when thousands of Hamas operatives along with those of other Palestinian terror groups such as Palestinian Islamic Jihad and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine mass-raped Jewish girls and women, and slaughtered 1,200 Israelis, taking 253 hostages -- Mayor Sutcliffe has exercised himself to some introspection.

 

While he did, at the time of the original decision being declared, also state his own disappointment that he and Ottawa City Council felt it was necessary to heed the threats emanating from 'Palestinian'-defending sources to avoid violent confrontations, commiserating with the antisemitic assaults Jews across Canada and in Ottawa have been subjected to, and deploring the ongoing 'protests' against Zionism, Jews and Israel, he reached a decision where he felt responsible enough that he and City Council decided after all, to reverse their decision.

"Like all residents of our city, Ottawa's Jewish community deserves to gather whenever it chooses in an environment that is free from hate, violence and racism."

"This is fundamental to a city that is free and democratic. Over the past two days, I have listened carefully to members of the community and I agree that they, and everyone in our community, should be able to hold events in public spaces without fear of threats and intimidation. My responsibility is to do everything possible to protect the safety of all members of our community. I've asked the chief of police and city officials to work with the Jewish Federation of Ottawa on a plan for an event to mark Israel's Independence Day while protecting the security and safety of everyone involved."

"We must ensure that members of the Jewish community -- and all residents of our city -- can gather whenever they choose to do so in safety, and free from intimidation and fear."

"We must continue to support our Jewish community which is experiencing increasingly higher levels of antisemitism. Let's all work together to ensure our city is safe and free from violence and racism in all its forms."

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe