By Joel Goldenberg and
Beryl Wajsman
The Suburban

Yves Engler, a longtime anti-Israel agitator best known for interrupting events and attempting to video and ask anti-Israel questions of prominent members of the Jewish community and others he protests against, has been arrested for harassment and obstruction of justice.

Court documents say the current accusations include repeated communications with two individuals, with intent to harass, one being a police officer and the other being media personality Dahlia Kurtz, a pro-Israel activist prominent on X (formerly Twitter); and obstructing a police officer in his duties.

Engler had written about Kurtz in late June 2024, “Racist Dahlia supports killing Palestinian children. 20,000 is not enough she wants even more Palestinian blood spilled.” Kurtz responded in early July, “I’m advising you in this one message only that you are harassing me. You’re threatening and you’re making me afraid for my safety.”

She then contacted lawyer Neil Oberman, who has successfully obtained injunctions keeping anti-israel activists well away from Jewish institutions; and helping Jewish university students against anti-Jewish harassment on campus.

Knowing in advance of his arrest, Engler wrote that a police officer named Crivello “said I had described Kurtz as a ‘genocide’” supporter and ‘fascist’ on Twitter. Guilty as charged.”

Engler made bail following a court appearance. His conditions include not being in close proximity to the complainants and not to make any reference about the police officer who was the alleged subject of harassment, to appear in court at required times, live at his listed address and alert the court in writing of any change in residence.

In a further twist in this story, Kurtz has filed a formal complaint with the Senate ethics commissioner against British Columbia Sen. Yuen Pau Woo appointed by Prime Minister Trudeau in 2016. Kurtz alleges that Woo “incited hate, aggression, and violence against me online in a public forum on X (Twitter) in a series of posts. This is in regards to a case before the courts in which I am the victim. He doesn’t even have the correct information and is commenting and siding with the accused. Senator Woo has now put me in the crosshairs of more people — and has further endangered my safety and my reputation.”

In what appears to be an attempt at intervening in the judicial process after Engler was charged, Woo challenged police by posting on X that,” I support the right of @EnglerYves to voice outrage over genocide in Gaza and to call out those who aid and abet crimes against humanity. The @rcmpgrepolice must explain fully the grounds on which charges are being laid and how these actions do not violate freedom of expression.” n