A controversial Jewish group, says it tries to fight anti-Semitism by "whatever means necessary,"
is planning to set up shop in Montreal.

The Jewish Defence League was founded in 1968 by Rabbi Meir Kahane in New York, with a goal to protect Jews from anti-Semitism using whatever means necessary – including violence.

“I see nothing wrong with killing someone who wants to kill me. And that's called normal,” said Kahana in an interview.

According to Jewish group B'nai Brith, there has been a sharp rise in anti-Jewish acts in Montreal in the past three weeks, including one episode in which two young people wearing kippahs were verbally assaulted by an employee at a gas station another in which a French tourist wearing a kippah claims he was sucker punched.

“This is a serious problem and the answer is not to cower,” said Meir Weinstein, national director of the JDL, adding that their goal is not violence, but mostly to train Jews in self-defence and plan counter-protests to enemies of Israel.

“We are not looking for violence or anything, but if anyone is going to try to use violence against Jews or Jewish institutions, we will use necessary legal means and that entails using any form of force under the law to apprehend such a person,” said Weinstein.

Meantime, Rabbi Reuben Poupko from the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs said he understands the worry many Jews may be feeling.

He said he is upset by the aggressive tone he has heard at protests, and by supporters of Hamas.

“Anyone who professes support for Hamas is processing support for a banned organization committed to the destruction of the state of Israel, committed to genocide with an enormous volume of blood on their hands. Hamas is nothing but a terror group,” he said.

He also said, however, there's no need for the JDL in Montreal.

“If they are coming here to engage in street confrontations with pro-Palestinian supporters that is to no one's benefit it only harms the social harmony of Montreal,” he said.

The JDF's leader will announce who will head up the Montreal chapter on Sunday, and are also planning to start chapters in Calgary and Vancouver.