OTTAWA — Two members of Parliament who were part of a Canadian delegation denied entry to the West Bank earlier this week are calling on Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand to press Israel for an explanation over what they describe as harsh treatment by border officials.
Several witnesses told The Canadian Press they saw Israeli officials push Ontario Liberal MP Iqra Khalid while the roughly 30-member delegation was held for several hours Tuesday at the Allenby Crossing, a key entry point between Jordan and the West Bank.
In a letter sent late Thursday, delegation members and MPs Jenny Kwan and Gurbux Saini asked Anand to summon Israel’s ambassador to Canada to explain why the group was denied access and allegedly mistreated.
Israel’s embassy in Canada said the delegation was turned away because it was sponsored by The Canadian-Muslim Vote, which the embassy claims receives funding from an organization Tel Aviv considers a terrorist entity.
The MPs are also seeking assurances that Canadian elected officials and citizens will not face intimidation or physical force in future interactions with Israeli authorities.
Earlier this week, Anand said in a social media post that Global Affairs Canada is in contact with the delegation and that the federal government has “expressed Canada’s objections regarding the mistreatment of these Canadians while attempting to cross.”
The incident has prompted renewed calls from MPs for accountability and diplomatic engagement to ensure the safety and respect of Canadians travelling in the region.