The Canadian government provided anti-Israel news outlets with $29,497 through a $60 million emergency relief fund meant to provide media subsidies during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an investigation by HonestReporting Canada. .A blog post said HonestReporting Canada made the discovery after reading a 2021 story in Canadaland. .The dossier cited in the story said Arabic newspaper Meshwar Media received $2,000 from the Canadian government. .The blog post said Meshwar spread hateful anti-Israel and antisemitic content. Complaints have been filed with Peel Region police over antisemitism allegations. .Meshwar published an article written by editor Nazih 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 actually 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. Meshwar published a cartoon depicting Jews as greedy and cheap around the same time..It published a column calling for Israel’s destruction in January. Khatatba mourned the death of a member of terrorist group Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine in 2021. .Magazine Adbusters took $27,497 from the relief fund. .Adbusters describes itself as “a global collective of writers, artists, designers, musicians, poets, philosophers and punks.” The blog post said Adbusters has a long history of anti-Israel views and publishing content accused of antisemitism. .It published a story in August insinuating Israel was controlling the international media when it referred to “the Israeli state and its media toadies.” The same story said Israel was responsible for 75 years of occupation, oppression, and apartheid..Adbusters published an image a few months prior which compared Palestinian terrorist Marwan Barghouti with former South African president Nelson Mandela. .The blog post said anti-Israel content from Meshwar and Adbusters was available and documented, but the publications were somehow awarded grants. .HonestReporting Canada sent a letter to Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez calling on the federal government to disassociate itself from these two publications and ensure they do not receive future funding. It requested an investigation be conducted into the process for how these outlets were approved in the first place, which appears to lack meaningful due diligence and proper vetting protocols..Liberal MP Anthony Housefather thanked HonestReporting Canada for sharing this information on Wednesday. .“We are looking into this right away,” said Housefather. .“The minister acted immediately this morning when we were advised.”.Khatatba said HonestReporting Canada’s accusations about Meshwar are incorrect. .“We are not hostile to the Jews,” he said. .“Rather, we oppose the Israeli occupation and Israel’s politicians, which is based on occupation, apartheid and the extermination of the Palestinian people.”.He said his publication stands with Palestinians to obtain their rights and liberation from Israeli occupation. He added these accusations pose a major threat to freedom of expression in Canada. .Adbusters co-founder Kalle Lasn said Israel will be “held accountable for their illegal and immoral treatment of Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza.”.“I am wholeheartedly with the Palestinians in their fight for freedom and dignity,” said Lasn. .“Your stupid Western Standard can go to you know where.”.These findings come after Diversity and Inclusion Minister Ahmed Hussen said in August the Community Media Advocacy Centre (CMAC) would no longer be working on an initiative for the Canadian government after it was discovered consultant Laith Marouf 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 that their funding has been cut and their project has been suspended.”
