BREAKING: Major Group Vows No Peace Until Israel Ceases to Exist—Montreal on High Alert

The Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) in Montreal has signaled its commitment to a long-term, non-compromising agenda, publicly stating that its efforts will not cease with a ceasefire and that its ultimate goal is the end of the State of Israel. This uncompromising rhetoric is fueling an already alarming surge in antisemitic incidents that has left Montreal's Jewish community feeling acutely vulnerable.

The PYM’s position, frequently articulated through the chant, "From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free," frames any truce or agreement as merely a pause in an existential struggle against what it terms "Zionist colonialism and occupation."

PYM: Beyond the Ceasefire

Statements from the grassroots organization emphasize that their mandate extends far beyond the current military operations or humanitarian pauses in the Gaza Strip. The group's declared objective is total "liberation and return" for Palestinians across the entire territory of historic Palestine, which explicitly requires the dissolution of Israel.

This viewpoint guides the movement's ongoing mobilization efforts, which include organizing large-scale protests and advocating for international pressure, such as the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement.

Fueling a Crisis of Antisemitism

For Montreal’s Jewish community, the PYM’s rhetoric constitutes an explicit call for the elimination of the Jewish state and is interpreted as inherently antisemitic, denying the Jewish people the right to self-determination.

This uncompromising stance has coincided with an exponential rise in anti-Jewish hate crimes and incidents in the city, dramatically worsening the security environment since the October 7, 2023, attacks.

Key indicators of the escalating crisis

Incidents have escalated from mere rhetoric to direct threats and acts of violence. Police in Montreal have investigated shootings targeting Jewish schools, as well as multiple arson and Molotov cocktail attacks targeting synagogues and Jewish community centers.

Police-reported hate crimes and incidents targeting the Jewish community have more than doubled in the past year, with community advocacy groups citing a surge of over 100% in anti-Jewish incidents. In the meanwhile, Jewish residents report widespread intimidation in public spaces, on university campuses, and in schools, often feeling compelled to conceal their religious or ethnic identity to avoid harassment.

The rhetoric emanating from groups like the PYM provides the ideological framework for the hostile and unsafe environment confronting Jewish residents. Community leaders argue that when organizations explicitly call for the eradication of Israel, it legitimizes the violence and aggression being directed at Jewish individuals and institutions in Montreal.

The ongoing commitment to this ultimate objective ensures that tensions on the streets of Montreal are likely to persist, regardless of any diplomatic arrangements reached thousands of miles away.