November 5, 2019
B’nai Brith Canada
OTTAWA – B’nai Brith Canada is calling on Ontario NDP Leader Andrea Horwath to publicly disavow the pro-terrorist comments made by a member of her caucus.
On Monday of this week, B’nai Brith drew attention to a tweet by Joel Harden, NDP Member of Provincial Parliament for Ottawa Centre, in which he called for the release of Khalida Jarrar. Jarrar is a senior member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) – a designated terrorist entity in Canada.
Harden referred to Jarrar as his “parliamentary colleague” and stated that he was “Saddened, sickened and disgusted” by her recent arrest in Israel on suspicions of involvement in terrorist activity. Harden called on the Canadian government to “demand her release immediately.”
Despite a public uproar of criticism in response to B’nai Brith’s revelations, Harden is doubling down and, in his own words, “stand[ing] by” his support for this terrorist leader – a woman who would be ineligible for entering Canada because of her membership in this terror group. Harden refuses to address or acknowledge her role in this heinous organization, which has murdered Canadians such as Lonna Sabbah and Howie Rothman, and even allegedly murdered an innocent teenager as recently as last summer.
“By what twisted logic,” asked Michael Mostyn, Chief Executive Officer of B’nai Brith Canada, “can Harden – the Official Opposition Critic for Accessibility & Persons with Disabilities; Pensions; Seniors’ Affairs – publicly support someone whose group maimed and created disabilities for an innocent Canadian citizen? This poor man suffered in agony for 11 months before his tragic death.”
When asked to address Harden’s remarks, a spokesperson for the Ontario NDP was only willing to say that the party “hope[s] for a peaceful and sustainable negotiated resolution to the conflict in the region, and a lasting peace that respects human rights.” Horwath has not responded to requests by B’nai Brith to clarify whether her party accepts the Canadian government’s position that the PFLP is a terrorist group, or what she intends to do about Harden’s ongoing advocacy on behalf of one of its prominent members.
What is the Ontario NDP’s issue with clearly and unequivocally disavowing an organization that murders Canadians, targets Israeli civilians and is recognized by the Canadian government as a terrorist threat?
Will there be any consequences for the reckless statements of this elected provincial official?
If you are as concerned and outraged as we are, please CLICK HERE and SIGN OUR PETITION to demand that MPP Harden ceases his advocacy for Khalida Jarrar of the murderous PFLP!
