Some in Montreal’s Jewish community are looking for answers after electronic message boards, one shown here in this image provided by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, at two different construction sites in the city displayed political slogans “Free Palestine†and “Escalate now†in an apparent hack, instead of the usual traffic delay and detour warnings. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs
*MANDATORY CREDIT*
MONTREAL – Members of Quebec’s Jewish community are looking for answers after they say electronic message boards at two construction sites in Montreal displayed pro-Palestinian political slogans instead of usual traffic alerts.
The message boards were apparently hacked to display phrases such as “free Palestine,” “escalate now,” and “globalize the intifada.”
Intifada means “shaking off” in Arabic, a word coined to describe Palestinian uprisings in 1987 and then in 2000, when Palestinian militants carried out deadly suicide bombings in Israel.
Eta Yudin, vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, says the messages on the traffic signs are an incitement to violence against Jews because “intifada” refers to terror attacks.
But Niall Clapham Ricardo with Independent Jewish Voices disagrees, saying slogans like “globalize the intifada” are calls to end the violence and dispossession of Palestinians in the occupied territories.
A group called Clash Mtl claimed responsibility for the hack, writing on Instagram that they carried out the act during the night with the goal of showing “solidarity with Palestine.”
Neither the City of Montreal nor Montreal police have responded to requests for comment.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 24, 2024.
