Liberal MP Anthony Housefather has received criticism for a defamatory poster that labeled him as a “neo-Nazi.” The poster was found attached to a lamp post in Montreal and falsely equated Zionism with terrorism, while calling for Mr. Housefather to leave Canada.
“My family has been here since the 19th century and we have indeed helped build this country. I am not going anywhere,” the Liberal MP stated on social media on July 2 along with a photo of the poster.
“Sorry antisemites. You may not like what I have to say, but I will keep saying it and I will keep being a proud Jew and a Zionist.”
Mr. Housefather’s team has reported this incident to the police, and he has not yet responded to a request for comment.
Following the Oct. 7 terrorist attack by Hamas on Israel and the subsequent conflict with the terrorist organization, there has been a notable increase in anti-Semitic incidents in the Western world. B’nai Brith Canada’s annual report revealed a 109 percent rise in anti-Semitic incidents in 2023 compared to 2022, totaling 5,791 incidents.
In December 2023, the RCMP apprehended a teenager in Ottawa who was allegedly planning a terrorist assault on the Jewish community. Responding to this news on social media, Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe remarked
on the recent surge of anti-Semitism in Ottawa.Mr. Housefather helped initiate a parliamentary investigation into
anti-Semitism at Canadian universities. This action was prompted by instances of anti-Jewish rhetoric at universities and the presence of pro-Palestinian groups on campuses in Canada and the United States.
In March,
Mr. Housefather announced that he was contemplating his future with the Liberal Party following a contentious vote on Palestinian statehood. Despite his disappointment with the outcome of the motion, Mr. Housefather ultimately chose to remain with the party, emphasizing his commitment to advocating for the centrist classical Liberal values that he believes in.
