Vote for a pro-Israel, pro-peace, pro-democracy future.

It’s a powerful reminder that our freedoms aren’t simply inherited, they are safeguarded through vigilance, active participation, and shared responsibility.

Making a plan to vote is one of the most effective ways to protect and strengthen those freedoms.

As the federal election enters its final weeks, the stakes feel higher than ever. For many, this election is more than a contest of policies, it’s a referendum on identity, values, and the kind of country we want to be. Tensions are rising. Candidates are framed as either saviours or existential threats. But amid the noise, we need clarity and a recommitment to democratic principles.

The French and English leaders’ debates this week made clear that Canada’s foreign policy, including our role in Israel-Palestine, is part of the public conversation. And rightfully so.

Canada has long been viewed as a peacekeeping nation. That reputation has faded in recent years, but it’s not beyond recovery. Our relationship with Israel has historically been rooted in shared democratic values. But as Israel’s government takes troubling steps toward authoritarianism and theocracy, Canada must ask: do those shared values still hold? If not, what actions can we take to preserve and promote the principles we claim to stand for?

The post-WWII international order, the Charter, and Canadian law all affirm that democracy, human rights, and equality must be defended - not selectively, but universally. If we truly believe in the rule of law, we must be prepared to apply it consistently, even when it is politically uncomfortable.

This conversation is deeply complex, particularly for Canadian Jews. Many of us were raised to see Israel not only as a homeland but as a pillar of our identity. In our communities and education, criticism of Israel was often treated as betrayal, or even as antisemitism. That legacy shapes how many of us react to this moment.

But let’s be clear: criticism of a government is not inherently antisemitic. Even the most committed pro-Israel organizations acknowledge this. The more difficult, and essential, question is: where does criticism of Israel cross the line into antisemitism?

We should all agree that conflating all Jews with the actions of the Israeli state is antisemitic. And yet, some of the very leaders who make that argument also conflate criticism of Israeli leaders with attacks on the Jewish people, as we saw in reactions to the ICC arrest warrants for Prime Minister Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Gallant. These warrants, whether one agrees with them or not, target politicians who hold power and the agency to make decisions in accordance with, or defiance of, international law and rules of war. This is very different than targeting a nation, or the everyday citizens of that nation.

At the same time, many voices critical of Israel fail to acknowledge how their language and arguments can echo antisemitic tropes—or slide into outright discrimination. And even when rhetoric isn’t antisemitic, targeting people based on nationality or political identity violates the very rights and freedoms the Charter enshrines. Discrimination of any kind, whether based on religion, ethnicity, or political belief, undermines the democratic values we claim to uphold.

Unfortunately, none of the major parties or leaders have successfully handled these conversations with the nuance and empathy they demand. Part of the problem lies in the binary narratives dominating political advocacy—portraying Canadian Jews as monolithic, and the Israel-Palestine conflict as black and white.

For too long, the loudest voices have either downplayed domestic antisemitism and Jewish ties to Israel, or used fear to shut down debate altogether. Neither serves democracy. Neither reflects the rich diversity of the Canadian Jewish community.

That’s why, ahead of this election, our policy centre released a new brief: Canada’s Role in Israel-Palestine: Our Perspective and Priorities. And it’s why we’ve launched an email campaign urging candidates across Canada to engage with a broader range of Jewish voices - those committed to peace, justice, and democracy.

We are, at our core, a pro-Israel, pro-peace, and pro-democracy organization. On this anniversary of the Charter, and as we make a plan to vote we are reminded: democracy is more than a vote. It is a living system built on freedom of expression, equal rights, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths.

Antisemitism is not the result of the actions of Israel, the visibility of pro-Palestine protests in the diaspora, or efforts to make our country a more inclusive and welcoming place.

It thrives, along with all hate and divisiveness, where democratic norms break down. Where disinformation spreads, dissent is silenced, and fear replaces dialogue. That’s why we must speak out when even our allies, like Israel, take steps that threaten those norms.

So as you make your plan to vote this weekend, speak with candidates, and discuss politics with friends and family, we urge you to advocate for a thoughtful, principled approach. One grounded not just in nuance, but in the values the Charter represents—freedom, equality, accountability, and justice.

We’ve seen in Israel, the United States, and even here at home just how fragile democracy can be. Preserving it demands more than agreement or comfort - it demands participation, challenge, and principled leadership.

A strong democracy doesn’t silence disagreement. It creates space for it. That’s how we know it’s working.