The Trudeau Government’s Fake Fight Against Antisemitism- Part 33

Zahid further stated that the invitation to the event was circulated widely within the Palestinian community and nearly 150 attended the event. Later on, Zahid indicated that the invitation to the event was circulated through the Coalition of Palestinian Organizations. The coalition in turn distributed the open-ended invite, asking those interested in attending to simply submit their name to her office. David, Akin, supra. 

Zahid conceded that through the manner the invitations were circulated, they became “an open invitation”. She further stated that she and her colleagues who organised the event did not have time to go through the list to check on the personal  history of  some 150 invitees whose names were deposited at Zahid’s office.

Surely, neither Zahid nor those who assisted for the event needed to do any research of the personal histories of Khatatba and Mahmoud Khalil of Montreal. All they had to do is take 5 to 10 minutes, maximum to go through the list. Zahid’s spokesman Jeff Jedras, stated that ”Neither [Zahir’s] office nor the parliamentary group invited Khatatba”, but added “we will certainly review carefully how we handle future events with outside attendees”.

B’nai Brith Canada appealed to Zahid “to disavow unsavoury haters who were somehow invited to this event. Unfortunately, the Jewish community has instead been met with her silence. We reiterate our appeal in the strongest of terms.”

On December 2, 2022 B’nai Brith called, yet again, on Zahid to more firmly distance herself from Khatatba and his publication: “Salma Zahid has a special obligation, particularly in her capacity as chair of the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship group to reject Meshwar Media and its publisher by name”. Stephanie Taylor, Canada-Palestine MP group vows review after accused ‘Holocaust denier’ attended event, Toronto Star December 2, 2022. Needless to say, once again, she did not do that then or at any time since. Instead, her spokesman Jedras responded that Zahid’s office had nothing more to add. Stephanie Taylor, supra. 

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies said it also reached out to Zahid seeking an explanation Stephanie Taylor, supra. It received no reply.

Irwin Cotler, the Prime Minister’s special envoy on preserving Holocaust remembrance and combatting antisemitism stated: “It is as ignorant as it is repugnant to have a Holocaust denier at a parliamentary gathering. This hate has no place in Canada or anywhere else-and certainly not on Parliament Hill.” Marie Woolf, Minister and MPs attended parliamentary reception with Holocaust denier, Globe and Mail, Dec.1 and 2, 2022