Teen who burned Israeli flag outside Montreal school breaks probation a day after sentencing

The 16-year-old who pleaded guilty to arson Monday after the theft and burning of Israeli flags outside the Hebrew Foundation School in April, has violated his probation and is now banned from social media.

The teen was sentenced to one year probation with several conditions including that he was not allowed to post about Israel or the school, a Jewish school in Dollard-des-Ormeaux, on social media.

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But on Tuesday he broke that rule posting the following message online in French:

“Finally released on probation. They thought they had finished and silenced me, but I’m back and stronger than ever. Thanks to those who supported me and especially don’t forget Palestine. My voice alone is worthless but together we move the city and we disturb them. Our victory soon.”

He was back in Youth court Thursday and new conditions have been handed down – which forbid him on social media all together.

After the teen’s initial sentence Monday, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) and Federation CJA said the one-year probation sentence was not a strong enough disincentive for those wanting to commit hate crimes.

“While we appreciate the sentence’s conditions protecting the Jewish community, the one-year probation does little to deter others from committing hateful acts and nothing to educate the individual about the harm of his actions,” Eta Yudin, the Quebec vice-president of CIJA, had said.

The initial probation conditions also stated the teen must maintain a distance of 200 metres from the Hebrew Foundation School and apologize in writing to them.