MP blames error for pro-Gaza reply to email over synagogue vandalism

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When a member of a Fredericton synagogue that had been vandalized wrote to local Liberal MP Jenica Atwin to admonish her for not speaking out about it, she responded weeks later with a long letter about “the atrocities in Palestine” and how dedicated she was to helping Gaza.

“Fredericton’s synagogue was vandalized today.. on holocaust remembrance day!! And you couldn’t be bothered to make a statement. Shame on you,” wrote the constituent on January 27th, the day the Sgoolai Israel Synagogue in Fredericton had been vandalized. In the subject line of the email, the constituent wrote . “I guess you and Justin only represent certain Canadians.” National Post has seen the email exchange and has confirmed its authenticity.

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Atwin’s reply came more than a month later, on March 4, and was a 1,500-word email that called for controls on exports to Israel to ensure against “Canadian materials being indirectly used in the slaughter of innocent people.” and for restoring funding to the United Nations Refugee and Works Agency (UNRWA), which has been implicated in terrorism against Israel.

“I want to thank you for your dedication and advocacy for this important issue that speaks to our humanity and in many ways the soul of our nation,” Atwin wrote in her letter, which claims her office has received “upwards of 10,000 emails, phone calls and direct messages” from Canadians supporting Palestinians. “The Government of Canada must do more to end the siege, protect human life and uphold international law,” the MP in the Liberal government wrote.

Atwin’s letter also speaks of “tough conversations” she’s had with colleagues within the Liberal government, her personal appeals to both Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Foreign Affairs Minister Melanie Joly on Gaza, and her support of a pending NDP motion recognizing Palestinian statehood.

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Atwin had posted a statement on Facebook on Jan. 27 about the vandalism and Holocaust Remembrance Day. “We say never again and yet hate is on the rise everywhere. Overnight, the synagogue in Fredericton was vandalized, causing a lot of pain on a day that already carries immense grief for the local Jewish community. We must remember as a community that we are stronger together. We must confront the lines that divide us. I know Fredericton will surround our fellow community members with support during these difficult times. Love and light will win!” she wrote.

Kate McAllister, a spokesperson for Atwin, said the email reply was made in error.

“Our staff was sending out the reply to hundreds of constituents who had emailed MP Atwin to ask her to take actions to stop the slaughter of Palestinians, and our staff copied the reply to (the letter’s author) by accident,” McAllister wrote.

She says the author did eventually receive a more appropriate reply from Atwin’s office, including a link to her Facebook statement on the synagogue vandalism, and that Atwin attended a Holocaust Memorial Day vigil at the Synagogue on the day it was vandalized.

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McAllister also said Atwin’s office contacted the synagogue’s president after the attack to share information on applying for federal security funding.

On Friday, Canada announced it would “resume” funding to UNRWA after pausing it following evidence presented by Israel that its employees participated the Oct. 7 terror attacks where Hamas terrorists conducted a campaign of murder, rape and kidnapping against Israeli civilians.

Atwin is known for taking positions considered to be hostile to Israel.

Shortly before crossing the floor from the Green Party to the Liberals in 2021, Atwin challenged then Green Party leader Annamie Paul’s calls for de-escalation in the Middle East, insisting there was no “two sides” in the conflict but “only human right abuses” by Israel, and referred to Israel as an apartheid state.

Atwin’s arrival in the Liberal caucus sparked so much concern amongst both current and former party MPs that the Liberals convened an emergency antisemitism summit to address the matter. After joining the Liberals, Atwin said she had softened her position on Israel and that she regretted her earlier comments.

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Deputy Conservative leader Melissa Lantsman told the National Post that the emailed letter doesn’t surprise her, considering Atwin’s past comments on Israel.

“What was surprising is that Justin Trudeau actively recruited her to cross the floor to his party,” she said.

“Trudeau’s … blatant refusal to acknowledge the very real concerns of Jewish Canadians is a pattern that we are seeing more and more of from him and the Liberals.”

David Cooper, vice-president of government relations with the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA,) described Atwin’s reply to the letter-writer as disrespectful and completely unacceptable.

“To deflect issues of antisemitism at home with the conflict in Gaza is deplorable. She should issue an apology and address the issue of antisemitism in her riding,” Cooper said.

National Post

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