Israël à Montréal

*Foreign Ministry Welcomes 36 New Diplomatic Cadets* *Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar at the opening ceremony: “The better you communicate, the better diplomats you will be.”* Thirty-six new cadets, selected from nearly 2,000 applicants, began their training today as part of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ prestigious diplomatic cadet programme. The programme was officially launched at a ceremony attended by Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and senior Ministry officials. The new class brings together people from a wide range of backgrounds, including a member of a former South Lebanon Army (SLA) family, veterans of elite military units and media professionals. With an acceptance rate of less than 2%, the programme attracted applicants from across Israeli society. This year’s class includes 19 women and 17 men, ranging in age from 26 to 51, with an average age of 34. Among them are both recent and long-established immigrants from Russia, Ethiopia, the UK, Canada and Venezuela. Speaking at the ceremony, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told the cadets: “Represent Israel with a deep conviction in the justice of our cause. That is at the heart of your mission. “The better you communicate, the better diplomats you will be. Someone who cannot communicate effectively can never be a good diplomat. “We are fighting a war not only on the battlefield, but also in the battle for public opinion, against powerful forces. If we cannot tell our own story and make our case, no one else will do it for us.” Over the next six months, the cadets will undergo intensive training before taking up positions at the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem and at Israeli diplomatic missions around the world. Photo credit: Shlomi Amsalem, GPO

Israel condemns the latest attack on Temple Emanu-El-Beth Sholom in Montreal. This synagogue has been targeted by antisemitic attacks before, as have Jewish schools, synagogues, and Jewish-owned businesses across Canada. The crisis of antisemitism in Canada has reached alarming levels, seriously undermining the safety and sense of security of the country's Jewish community. The Canadian government has fueled an anti-Israel climate that has contributed to the appalling surge of antisemitism across Canada, the worst in Canadian history. We expect the Canadian authorities to bring those responsible to justice and to adopt and enforce a zero-tolerance policy toward antisemitism. The Jewish community in Canada deserves to live in safety, without fear or intimidation.

How does 🇮🇱 democracy work? In Israel, every citizen aged 18 and over has the right to vote. One vote determines which party they support. The results determine how the 120 seats in the Knesset are distributed, which parties enter parliament and who can form a government. A 3.25% electoral threshold. A parliamentary majority of 61 seats.