Key Takeaways
- A Canadian lawmaker, Jenny Kwan, and five other MPs were denied entry to the occupied West Bank alongside civil society leaders, with Israel citing public safety concerns.
- The delegation, organized by The Canadian-Muslim Vote, aimed to meet with Palestinian community members and discuss daily realities in the West Bank.
- Canada’s recognition of an independent Palestinian state earlier this year may have contributed to Israel’s decision to block the group.
- The incident highlights the challenges faced by those trying to enter the West Bank, including foreign doctors and aid workers.
- The Canadian government has expressed objections to the mistreatment of the delegates, while Israel claims the group was denied entry due to lack of prior coordination and security concerns.
Introduction to the Incident
A Canadian lawmaker, Jenny Kwan, has dismissed Israel’s claims that a delegation of politicians and civil society leaders posed a threat to public safety, after they were denied entry to the occupied West Bank. Kwan, a member of the left-leaning New Democratic Party (NDP), questioned whether Canada’s recognition of an independent Palestinian state earlier this year contributed to Israel’s decision to block the group. The delegation, which included six MPs and 24 civil society leaders, was turned back to Jordan at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge crossing, which connects Jordan with the West Bank and is controlled by Israel on the Palestinian side.
The Delegation’s Mission
The delegation, organized by nonprofit group The Canadian-Muslim Vote, had planned to meet with Palestinian community members to discuss daily realities in the West Bank, where residents have faced a surge in Israeli military and settler violence. They were also planning to meet with Jewish families affected by the conflict, said Kwan, who described the three-day trip as a fact-finding mission. Kwan rejected the notion that the delegation’s mission posed a public safety concern, highlighting the importance of witnessing the situation on the ground in the West Bank. The delegates had applied for and received Israel Electronic Travel Authorization permits before reaching the crossing, and the Canadian government had informed Israel ahead of time of the delegation’s plans.
Lack of Information and Coordination
Global Affairs Canada, the country’s Foreign Ministry, did not respond to questions about the incident, while Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand said the ministry was in contact with the delegation and had expressed Canada’s objections regarding the mistreatment of the Canadians while attempting to cross. The Israeli military did not respond to repeated requests for comment, but the Israeli military agency that oversees affairs in the occupied Palestinian territory, COGAT, said the Canadian delegates were turned back because they arrived "without prior coordination" and were "denied for security reasons". However, Kwan said the delegation had followed every step they were supposed to follow, and she was unsure what kind of coordination was required.
Canada-Israel Ties
The incident comes amid strained relations between Canada and Israel, after Canada joined several European allies in recognizing an independent Palestinian state in September. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Canada’s decision, saying "Israel will not allow you to shove a terror state down our throats". The recognition came after months of mass protests in Canada and other Western countries demanding an end to Israel’s genocidal war against Palestinians in Gaza, which has killed more than 70,000 people since October 2023. Rights advocates have also called for action to stem a surge in deadly Israeli violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.
Implications and Concerns
Members of the Canadian delegation questioned whether their entry refusal was part of an Israeli effort to prevent people from witnessing what is happening on the ground in the Palestinian territory. Kwan raised concerns that if people cannot witness the situation, misinformation and disinformation will continue. She also highlighted the challenges faced by foreign doctors and aid workers trying to enter the West Bank, citing an incident where foreign doctors were turned back to Jordan at the King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge crossing as they tried to bring medicine and baby formula into the West Bank. The incident has sparked concerns about the difficulties faced by those trying to enter the West Bank, and the importance of allowing witnesses to the situation on the ground.
