OTTAWA – NDP Leader Avi Lewis has clarified that he is not attributing the actions of the Israeli government in Gaza to all Jews, following criticism from Liberal MPs, who labeled his recent social media comments as irresponsible and “despicable.”
In a post on the platform X, Lewis remarked that he would observe Yom Kippur, the holiest day on the Jewish calendar, by reflecting on geopolitical issues. He stated, “For Jewish people, the personal has always been political and the political always personal. This year I’m reflecting on the fact that we failed to do our part to stop an ongoing genocide committed in our name.” However, his comments did not directly reference the ongoing war in Gaza, which erupted in October 2023 following a surprise attack by Hamas that resulted in the deaths of 1,200 people in Israel.
Since the escalation of conflict, reports indicate that tens of thousands of Palestinians have died due to Israeli airstrikes, many of which have targeted civilian areas, contributing to a humanitarian crisis that includes an international declaration of famine.
Liberal MPs Anthony Housefather and Ben Carr, both of whom are Jewish, vehemently opposed Lewis’s statement, arguing that it is unjust to hold all Jews responsible for Israel’s policies. Carr characterized the remarks as “naive” and labeled them as “irresponsible for a leader to say,” stressing the dangerous narrative they propagate that could contribute to threats against the Jewish community.
Housefather took to X to describe Lewis’s comments as “despicable.” The federal government’s official definition of antisemitism warns against collective blame of Jewish individuals for Israel’s actions, noting that such narratives are known to incite anti-Jewish hatred.
This notion of collective responsibility has been linked to various attacks on Jewish institutions, including a recent shooting incident outside a synagogue in Belleville, Ontario, which occurred as worshippers gathered to observe Yom Kippur. The attack reportedly involved a 29-year-old man allegedly firing a weapon at a police officer assigned to provide security at the synagogue.
In response to the shooting, Lewis condemned the attack, describing it as “terrifying” and stating that he could imagine the fear experienced by those in the synagogue during the chaos. He referred to the situation as a “super scary thing” and a “horrible thing.” Additionally, he characterized criticism of his comments regarding Israel as politically motivated, expressing regret that such serious issues are being used for partisan advantage.
Lewis asserted, “Holding Jews collectively responsible for the actions of the State of Israel is antisemitic. I’ve never done it. I think it’s dangerous, and that’s absolutely not what I did.” He defended his statement as one emanating from “profound sadness” as a Jewish Canadian, highlighting that many in the Jewish community feel they have not done enough to address the ongoing tragedy.
Some, including former Canadian ambassador to Israel Jon Allen, have contended that leading Jewish organizations in Canada are fostering a misleading impression of support for Israel's military actions against Palestinians by failing to criticize the Israeli government. Allen, also Jewish, testified before a Senate committee, stating, “By not calling out what’s happening in the West Bank and Gaza, there is a complicity of silence.” He explained that this perceived inaction by the Jewish community leads many Canadians to question whether they support all of Israel’s actions, particularly with regard to the conflict in Gaza.
