Transport Minister Omar Alghabra and Green Leader Elizabeth May were among a group of MPs who met Tuesday with Meshwar Media editor Nazih Khatatba, who is alleged to have spread antisemitism. .“Two days ago, Canadian Members of Parliament, including federal cabinet minister @OmarAlghabra and Green Party Leader @ElizabethMay, met with and hosted a dangerous antisemite and Holocaust denier,” said Documenting Antisemitism in a Thursday tweet. .The Canadian-Palestinian Parliamentary Group, chaired by Liberal MP Salma Zahid, hosted Khatatba and Meshwar Media on Parliament Hill for a celebration. .Meshwar was among the anti-Israel news outlets the Canadian government provided with $29,497 through a $60 million emergency relief fund meant as media subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a November 1 investigation by HonestReporting Canada. .READ MORE: Canadian government gave $30,000 in grants to anti-Israel publications.Meshwar published an article written by Khatatba on its website in August, when he said the Israel Mossad killed 11 Israeli athletes during the 1972 Munich Summer Olympics. The perpetrators were members of the Palestinian terrorist group Black September..Khatatba used the antisemitic dual loyalties slur the same month when he accused Jews of being more dedicated to Israel than the countries they reside in. It published a cartoon depicting Jews as greedy and cheap around the same time..Documenting Antisemitism said Khatatba praised the nail-bomb murder of Jewish-Canadian boy Aryeh Schupak as a quality operation by Palestinians. It said it is “reprehensible Canadian elected officials meet with those who praise the antisemitic slaughter of Canadian citizens.”.It went on to say Zahid and the Canada-Palestine Parliamentary Friendship Group have serious questions to answer. These questions are who invited him to the event, how did he obtain a security pass, and what ties does the group have to Meshwar. .NDP MP Niki Ashton, who attended the meeting, apologized for meeting him in the past..“The Laith Marouf scandal has shown us there is zero accountability in this country and that antisemitism will continue to go unchecked until we do something about it,” it said. .Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen said in August the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC) will no longer be working on an initiative for the Canadian government after it was discovered Marouf, who worked as a consultant for it, had made antisemitic remarks. .READ MORE: Anti-racism director fired from Canadian government project for antisemitism.“The antisemitic comments made by Laith Marouf are reprehensible and vile,” said Hussen. .“We have provided notice to the CMAC their funding has been cut and their project has been suspended.” .Alghabra acknowledged he was at the event with MPs and members of the Palestinian community from across Canada. .“What this individual said is offensive and antisemitic and must be condemned,” he said. .“Antisemitism is real and I will continue to call it out whenever I see it.” .Zahid said the event was held to honour the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. .“The invitation was circulated widely within the Palestinian community, and nearly 150 people attended,” she said. .She said she was unable to research the history of every attendee. .The MP called herself “a voice against antisemitism, and all forms of discrimination based on faith.”.She added she will continue to oppose and condemn incidents and comments containing antisemitism, Islamophobia, and other forms of discrimination based on faith.
