Who is a Zionist? A Canadian court has been asked to decide

A leading liberal Zionist resigns disillusioned; a hawkish Zionist organisation is sued: Canada's Jewish community fights over how to support Israel.

Canada’s Jewish community is facing battles over who gets to be called pro-Israel and whether supporting a two-state solution remains possible in the wake of October 7.

The chairman of Canada's leading liberal Zionist organisation has resigned because he is disillusioned with its agenda of peacebuilding with Palestinians.

JSpaceCanada defines itself as a pro-Israel, pro-peace Zionist advocacy organisation which champions a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine. Chairman Joe Roberts stepped down on Monday, saying that the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7 had shaken his political beliefs to the point that he no longer identified with its agenda.

"The response from the left to the October 7 massacre was a turning point for me," he wrote in a post on X.

"The lack of compassion and vitriol I witnessed forced me to question where I stand politically. It's been a painful realization, leading to my resignation from an organization I deeply care about."

Since October 7, Roberts has been sharing his disillusionment with the Palestinians and the peace process with his thousands of followers on social media.

Perhaps most disturbing for JSpace supporters and activists were his recent calls to dismantle UNRWA, following revelations that employees of the Palestinian relief agency had participated in the Hamas terror attack. JSpace Canada has called on the Canadian government to maintain aid to Palestinians.