OTTAWA — The UN’s Special Rapporteur for Palestine has blamed Pro-Israeli groups for pressuring Canadian government officials to refuse to meet with her during a visit to Ottawa.
Francesca Albanesen told a press conference in Ottawa Tuesday that meetings with government officials — including Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly — were unexpectedly cancelled.
“It’s happening because of the pressure from pro-Israel lobby groups, who are very vocal, very virulent, very aggressive,” Albanese said.
“What are they fearing? I’m telling you the truth — I’m just speaking facts and international law.”
The Toronto Sun has reached out to Joly’s office for comment.
Albanese is in Canada for a nationwide speaking tour, having attended a talk at McGill University on Monday.
Albanese unexpectedly pulled out of a two-day “Coordinating Council 4 Palestine” conference in Montreal over the weekend, where she was billed as a keynote speaker.
Among those speaking at that conference was Charlotte Kates, a leader of the Canadian-based terror group Samidoun.
Albanese’s comments about Israel since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas terror attacks have sparked widespread criticism. She has compared Israel to Nazi Germany and Taliban-ruled Afghanistan, diminishing the Oct. 7 attacks. Albanese has repeatedly described Israel’s war against Hamas as a so-called “genocide.”
Germany, France and the United States denounced Albanese’s comments as anti-Semitic.
Her visit to Canada prompted numerous calls for her to be barred from the country, and sparked questions about why she was permitted to hold a press conference on Parliament Hill.
She held her press conference in Room 135-B in West Block, a room that doesn’t require sponsorship from a Parliamentarian.
Israeli Ambassador Iddo Moed said he was “deeply disturbed” to learn Albanese was given a platform on Parliament Hill.
Recommended video
“Ms. Albanese is a habitual originator and disseminator of poisonous lies about Israel and its policies in the West Bank and Gaza, for which she has been condemned by Western governments and NGOs,” he said.
“The refusal of any Canadian government official to meet with her speaks for itself.”
Spadina-Fort York MP Kevin Vuong was likewise upset.
“Sec. 83 of Canada’s Criminal Code prohibits support for terrorism, yet Francesca Albanese, someone who has publicly participated in a Hamas conference, was given a platform,” said the Independent MP.
“Shame on whoever gave her a podium, because they amplified a person who has been condemned by Canada and other democracies for her blatantly anti-Semitic remarks.”
Vuong also noted that when questioned if Israel had a right to exist, Albanese responded “Israel does exist,” adding that it is recognized by the UN.
“Albanese’s comments were telling when she was asked about Israel’s right to exist, and could not say ‘yes, it has a right to exist,’ nor could she name Hamas, the terrorist perpetrator of the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust,” Vuong said.
Deputy Conservative Leader Melissa Lantsman described the situation as disgraceful.
“This exposes the institutional rot of the UN and raises questions on if anyone in the Government of Canada and those close to it are meeting with her,” she said.
“Every self-respecting democracy should be calling for her to be fired.”
[email protected]
X: @bryanpassifiume