Liberal MP Anthony Housefather appointed new anti-Semitism adviser
Liberal MP Anthony Housefather He said he was “looking forward to making a real difference” as the government’s new special adviser on Jewish relations and anti-Semitism.
The Prime Minister’s Office announced his appointment to the post on Friday, saying Housefather will advise the prime minister and cabinet and work with the Jewish community.
Housefather, who is Jewish, has spoken out about the rising number of anti-semitism in Canada since the current conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October.
The appointment comes four months after the Housefather considered leaving the Liberal caucus after an NDP motion on the Israel-Gaza war left him feeling angry and isolated within his party.
After that period of reflection, he said he would remain a Liberal and that Trudeau had asked him to work with the government to tackle the “massive” problem of anti-Semitism in Canada right now.
Housefather then helped launch a congressional committee study of anti-Semitism on college campuses in May.
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Housefather himself has been the target of anti-Semitic hate, including earlier this week when posters were plastered on street signs in Montreal calling him a Nazi, equating Zionism with terrorism and telling him to “leave Canada.”
Housefather welcomed his appointment, which will include working with Deborah Lyons, the federal government’s special envoy for combating anti-Semitism.
“Jewish Canadians must feel safe in our communities, on campuses and in Canadian life,” he said in a statement.
The original NDP motion called, among other things, for Canada to officially recognize the State of Palestine.
The Speaker of the House called the wording one-sided and the motion caused significant division among MPs, including within the Liberal caucus.
The motion that was ultimately adopted was revised to be very close to current Canadian foreign policy, including recognition that Palestinian statehood would be part of a two-state solution within the Middle East peace process.
Words were added calling on Hamas to lay down its arms and clearly identify the militant group as a recognized terrorist organization. The motion also called on Canada to stop approving arms transfers to Israel.
At the time, Housefather acknowledged that the last-minute changes improved the motion, but said he could not support it, in part because the changes came so late in the process that they had not been fully debated.
© 2024 The Canadian Press
