TORONTO (JTA) — Eight Jewish women were arrested after they entered the Israeli consulate in Toronto and began protesting Israel’s actions in Gaza.
The women entered the heavily secured consulate in pairs Wednesday. Once all eight were inside, they staged a sit-in.
The Royal Canadian Mounted Police were called and led the women out in handcuffs. The protesters were turned over to Metro Toronto Police and each was charged with one count of breach of the peace. The charges were later dropped and the women were released.
Israeli peace activists, artists, the president of Science for Peace and several students were in the group.
"Israel purports to represent all Jews worldwide and these atrocities are not being committed in our name," spokeswoman and filmmaker Cathy Gulkin told the Toronto Star.
A spokesman for the consulate declined comment.
Meanwhile, Toronto’s Jewish community is gearing up for a large pro-Israel rally Thursday night to take place at the city’s largest synagogue. Similar rallies are planned on the same night in Montreal, London, Hamilton, Ottawa, Winnipeg, Calgary, Vancouver and Halifax.
