B.C. Premier David Eby has criticized what heB次元官网网址檚 calling the B次元官网网址渉atefulB次元官网网址� vandalism of the constituency office of former minister Selina Robinson that came hours after she resigned from his cabinet over remarks that angered pro-Palestinian groups and others.
Her exit on Monday has been deplored by Jewish groups, but wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough to satisfy some of her critics.
B次元官网网址 on social media showed the office covered in signs calling for B次元官网网址渋ntifada revolutionB次元官网网址� and RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 removal from the NDP caucus, among other messages and Palestinian flags.
B次元官网网址淲e refuse to have an MLA thatB次元官网网址檚 a racist,B次元官网网址� says a voice on the video, posted on Tuesday morning by an account called Canadian Antifa.
Eby responded with a plea for peaceful protest.
B次元官网网址淪elina RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 office was vandalized last night, which included hateful messages,B次元官网网址� Eby said in a message posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, the same social media platform where the video of the office in Coquitlam, B.C., was shared.
B次元官网网址淭his is wrong. Peaceful protest cannot include spreading hate.B次元官网网址�
Selina RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 office was vandalized last night, which included hateful messages. This is wrong. Peaceful protest cannot include spreading hate.
B次元官网网址� David Eby (@Dave_Eby)
Robinson, who is Jewish, stepped down as post-secondary education minister on Monday following a sustained outcry over her comments last week that modern Israel was founded on B次元官网网址渁 crappy piece of land.B次元官网网址�
She announced her resignation from cabinet after critics called her comments racist and Islamophobic. Robinson and Eby said she would remain in the NDP caucus.
The resignation comes amid ongoing tensions and global protests over the Israel-Hamas war, in which thousands have died since Oct. 7, when Hamas militants killed 1,200 people in Israel and took another 250 hostage.
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Officials at RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 constituency office were not immediately available for comment.
RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 exit from the NDP cabinet has caused deep concerns from some members of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 Jewish community who said they had lost an advocate who admitted her mistake and was willing to make amends.
Robinson apologized twice in the days before her resignation, saying B次元官网网址渕y words were inappropriate, wrong and I now understand how they have contributed to Islamophobia and anti-Palestinian racism.B次元官网网址�
But it didnB次元官网网址檛 quell the criticism, or save her place in the cabinet.
Nico Slobinsky, Pacific vice-president of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, said RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 removal undermined the Jewish communityB次元官网网址檚 confidence in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 government and signalled that Jewish leaders were held to different standards than others.
Slobinsky said in a statement the Jewish community had lost a strong voice at a time of increasing acts of antisemitism and anti-Israel protests.
B次元官网网址淭he community is both offended and hurt by what has happened to a great ally and British Columbian,B次元官网网址� he said.
B次元官网网址淕iven this obvious double standard and loss of Jewish representation in cabinet, Premier David Eby must share what steps he is going to take to repair the relationship and restore the communityB次元官网网址檚 trust in him and his government.B次元官网网址�
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs says itB次元官网网址檚 a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization whose mission is to preserve and protect Jewish life in Canada and advance policy interests of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 organized Jewish community.
Nine rabbis signed a letter to Eby on Tuesday supporting Robinson and expressing disappointment in the premierB次元官网网址檚 decision to accept her resignation.
B次元官网网址淲e believe you have capitulated to a small but loud group of people,B次元官网网址� said the letter from the Rabbinical Association of Vancouver, chaired by Jonathan Infeld. B次元官网网址淭his is dangerous for our community and the strength of our provinceB次元官网网址檚 democracy.B次元官网网址�
The rabbis highlighted an incident on International Holocaust Remembrance Day last month, when EbyB次元官网网址檚 social media accounts posted messages saying B次元官网网址渨e stand with the Muslim community throughout Canada on this sorrowful day of remembrance.B次元官网网址�
Eby later called it a mistake by a staff member. The rabbis said they were deeply offended but accepted his apology.
Robinson, they said, B次元官网网址渄id not receive the same empathy.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淲e will remember this day the next time you ask for our trust and support,B次元官网网址� said the rabbis.
Robinson triggered the uproar that ended her cabinet career with remarks on Jan. 30 during a panel discussion with other Jewish politicians hosted by BB次元官网网址檔ai Brith Canada.
She lamented a lack of knowledge by younger people about the foundation of modern Israel.
B次元官网网址淭hey donB次元官网网址檛 understand it was a crappy piece of land with nothing on it. There were several hundred thousand people but other than that it didnB次元官网网址檛 produce an economy,B次元官网网址� she said.
Eby said Monday that RobinsonB次元官网网址檚 remarks were B次元官网网址渂elittlingB次元官网网址� and caused harms that were incompatible with her staying in cabinet.
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Dirk Meissner, The Canadian Press
