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I am writing to protest the fact that Mayor Gillingham’s office gave the Maryland Foodfare a Mayor’s BIZ Zone award. Ramsey Zeid, an owner of Foodfare, has made inflammatory posts on social media about Zionists and Israel that ought to have disqualified Foodfare receiving such an award in May 2025 ,a month designated across Canada as Jewish Heritage Month. Zionism is the right of the Jewish people, like all other peoples, to self-determination in their ancestral homeland. The vast majority of Jews in Winnipeg and in Canada see a connection to Israel as part of their Jewish identity. When we pray, for example, we face East towards Jerusalem, where the Jewish Temple stood, long before Islam was even born. I have combed through Ramsey Zeid's Facebook page, as well as posts made by Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba (CPAM) of which he is President. On Oct 21,2024 CPAM made a Facebook post praising the "leader of the resistance" Yahaya Sinwar–saying he "did not hide in the shadows" and he embodied "the spirit of resistance." On Oct 27, 2024 Zeid posted on his Facebook another post referring to Sinwar as a “resistance leader “ and a “martyr.” If the City of Winnipeg condemns terrorism and honours Jewish heritage month, why grant an award to a business owner who has praised Sinwar, who was the mastermind behind the Oct 7 attacks, which resulted in the most Jews murdered since the Holocaust ?
On October, 2024 Zeid posted that "Millions of people around the world are starting to see Zionism for what it really is, a disease that must be destroyed." This is dehumanizing in that it essentially suggests that Jews, the vast majority of whom identify with Israel as part of their heritage, are a DISEASE. Would it be acceptable in public discourse to call any other people a disease?
Both of the above posts are speech that is hate-filled, and contrary to the IHRA definition of antisemitism that is the official policy of the province of Manitoba and of Canada by demonizing and delegitimizing Israel. Hateful comments can have tragic world consequences, resulting in acts of violence not only in the Middle East but right here in Canada and in North America against Jews and supporters of Israel's right to exist (i.e. The D.C. murders, the Colorado burning of individuals merely congregating to express concern over hostages). A post of Feb 20, 2024 made by Zeid’s on Facebook shows a bookshelf containing a history of Palestinians in the region as full, but a book shelf containing the history of the Jewish state and Jewish people in the Holy Land region as completely empty. (see the screenshot here) This post is hateful, and exhibits intolerance by claiming that only the Palestinians have historical roots in the region, while the Jewish people have absolutely none. The post demonstrates that Ramsey Zeid completely disrespects the connection of the Jewish people to the land of Israel, which is evidenced by Jewish people living in this land for over 3000 consecutive years, supported by archaeological and DNA evidence and the bible itself. Zeid appears unwilling to accept that Jews are an indigenous people to the land of Israel and the delegitimizes Israel's very existence. The sum total of all of the posts suggests to me that Ramsey Zeid does not think there ought to be a state of Israel, only a state of Palestine-from the River to the Sea.
The Mayor’s office could have chosen a business whose owner advocates for a two state solution, a peaceful Palestine living side by side with Israel but Ramsey Zeid has never advocated for this to the best of my knowledge. After Oct 7,2023, I could not find any statement made by Zeid to suggest he agrees with Canada's long standing position advocating a two state solution. But on July 4, 2024 Zeid posted “An All Out for Palestine” event with a map which included not only the West Bank and Gaza but all of Israel on it, suggesting that he claims all of Israel as belonging to Palestine. Why would the Mayor’s office give an award to an individual who is radical, not a moderate? Would Foodfare be awarded a prize if Ramsey Zeid had made posts denying that Ukrainians have any right to have a state in the Ukraine? I think not. Zeid wrote in another post on Facebook that: “ZIONISM MUST BE STOPPED!! ZIONISM MUST BE DESTROYED!!ZIONISM IS THE ROOT OF ALL PROBLEMS IN PALESTINE AND THE MIDDLE EAST!!” I ask you, Mayor Gillingham, is it respectful and decent to say that Zionism and by implication Jews are the root of all problems in the Middle East? This post is hateful towards a people who were victims of the Holocaust and have a tiny state in the Middle East, less than the size of Lake Winnipeg. How in the world has Zionism been responsible for the Syrian civil war, the Arab spring in Egypt, Saudi Arabia's war with Yemen, the War in Iraq to name but a few conflicts? Not only are Zionist Jews not responsible for all of the problems in the Middle East, they have made advances in medicine and technology that are being used all over the world, including in the Middle East. Arabs who live in Israel are doctors, pharmacists, lawyers, jurists and members of Parliament. Many Israeli Arabs I personally interviewed while I was in Israel without them knowing I was Jewish told me they would prefer to live in Israel, over any future Palestinian state run by the Palestinian Authority or Hamas. I have seen a video of Ramsey Zeid encouraging young male children to lead a public chant of "All Zionists are racists". That should have raised a red alert for you Mr. Mayor. The vast majority of Jews in Winnipeg and Canada identify with the right of the Jewish people to self- determination making them Zionists and Zeid is saying we are all racists. Why would the Mayor’s office give such an award when this is what Ramsey Zeid is teaching children? Ramsey Zeid has publicly shared a video on the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba’s official channel calling for global uprisings against Israel and its allies — including city halls and corporations in Canada. The video Zionists “demonic,” (meaning that if you believe Israel has a right to exist you are demonic) and advocating for violent “intifada revolution.” It is not reasonable to avoid the implications of honouring Mr. Zeid here by distinguishing between the business and its owner or between laudable civil activities and these posts as supposedly distinct issues. Ask yourself if you would accept this detachment if you were handing out awards to someone who expressed such views in relation to Indigenous communities or other vulnerable minorities. As it happens, Jews are the most targeted minority in this country with respect to hate crimes. In other contexts – such as nominations to federal administrative tribunals- shocking media posts have been considered disqualifying. To Mayor Gillingham, I ask you in all seriousness if I posted publicly that Palestinians were a disease, were all racists, have no history, were responsible for all the problems in the Middle East, and if I further indoctrinated Jewish children in Winnipeg with these beliefs, would you elevate me by giving the Winnipeg Jewish Review a business award? Councillor Rollins has written to you that she and her daughter were “pictured on a public list targeting Zionists linked to a broader database of Jewish individuals in positions of influence." She wrote, “Mr. Zeid helped amplify this.” This alone ought to have disqualified Foodfare from this honour. Rollins was in Korea when Zeid was nominated for this award. Councillors John Orlikow and Russ Wyant have since expressed their objections to the fact that Foodfare received this award. Councillor Cindy Gilroy has also made a thoughtful statement. Kevin Klein in the Winnipeg Sun has called on you to rescind the award. I met you, Mayor Gillingham at the rally outside the Asper Campus, right after the Hamas Oct 7,2023 attacks and heard you speak before 2000 people. Sir, I expected better of you. If you find the Hamas Oct 7 attacks unacceptable as you said you did then, there is no way you ought to dignify a business owner who praises Sinwar, the mastermind of those attacks. The reputation of your office has been tarnished. |
