31 May 2012
Canada’s Jewish human rights organization, B’nai Brith Canada, has alerted NDP Leader Thomas Mulcair regarding its concern over anti-Israel sentiment in his caucus. The organization has learned that Deputy NDP Leader Megan Leslie has been selectively promoting several anti-Israel events on her NDP website, such as “Halifax Israel Apartheid Week”, a week of activities that has been denounced by government and community leaders as promoting hatred and intolerance on campus. Just last week, Leslie advertised an anti-Israel program referring to the “illegal occupation” of the Palestinians.
Deputy NDP Leader Libby Davies has also been actively campaigning against Israel by bringing forward a petition in the House of Commons unfairly criticizing the Jewish State and calling on the Government of Canada to change its position towards Israel. B’nai Brith is calling on Thomas Mulcair to ensure that the NDP maintains an inclusive policy platform that supports the Jewish State.
Frank Dimant, CEO of B’nai Brith Canada, issued the following statement:
“While we greatly admire Thomas Mulcair’s strong personal conviction in support of the Jewish State, which he has articulated publicly on multiple occasions, we do have concerns as to the growth of anti-Israel propaganda within the NDP. We are calling on the NDP leader to formulate a definitive, principled party stance regarding the Jewish State, to fully condemn the growing demonization of Israel within his party and to ensure that the NDP does not allow itself to be misused to spread anti-Israel propaganda.”
For more information: communications@bnaibrith.ca
B’nai Brith Canada has been active in Canada since 1875 as the Jewish community’s foremost human rights agency
B’nai Brith Canada
15 Hove St.,Toronto, M3H 4Y8, Canada