Liberal Leader Mark Carney is under fire from the Conservative Party of Canada for refusing to denounce one of his candidates’ claims that Israel is committing genocide, as well as his own controversial response to an anti-Israel heckler.
“Mark Carney needs to answer if he believes that Israel has a right to defend itself from the sadistic death cult Hamas,” said Conservative deputy leader Melissa Lantsman in a Sunday statement.
Lantsman referred to an exchange Carney had at an Apr. 8 rally where a heckler shouted, “Mr. Carney, there’s a genocide in Palestine!”
Carney responded immediately, saying, “I’m aware. That’s why we have an arms embargo.”
Lantsman said that Carney was on his third day of not taking media questions after he recently paused his campaign. He said the pause was to deal with the trade war, not mentioning his China controversies.
The Conservatives are demanding that Carney clarify his position on Israel and respond to video footage of Liberal candidate Adam van Koeverden campaigning in a mosque and asserting, “Your voices will be strong in Ottawa, strong to condemn the genocide and end the genocide in Gaza.”
The Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs clarified that there is no genocide in Gaza.
“As we have stated for months, Israel has the right to self-defence. An arms embargo on Canada’s democratic ally facing attacks from Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and Iran is not only the wrong policy, it’s dangerous,” wrote the CIJA in a post to X.
Carney claimed he “didn’t hear” the word genocide when he responded.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu criticized Carney for his comments, accusing him of undermining a democratic ally and urging him to retract his statement.
“With hate marches again witnessed in Canadian streets yesterday – during Passover no less – Mark Carney cannot leave these accusations from his candidate unaddressed,” said Lantsman. “Mark Carney should tell Canadians where he and his party stand. Does Mark Carney believe that Israel is committing genocide, as declared by his own candidate? Or does he believe that they have the right to defend themselves?”
Carney did not respond to the controversy, but posted to X, referencing the Jewish hostages held in captivity.
“Together, we must confront and denounce the rising tide of antisemitism, and the threat it poses to Jewish life and safety in communities across Canada. At so many Passover tables, there will also be reflection on the hostages still in captivity, and we all pray for their return,” said Carney.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre also posted to X during Passover, taking a stronger stance against Hamas than Carney, considering the Liberal leader didn’t mention the terrorist group directly.
He said the Passover story shows that oppression can be defeated and urged those facing subjugation to persist in their fight for freedom.
“As Jews in Israel and around the world gather around the Seder table, we are reminded that for many, the quest for freedom is ongoing. As Israel continues to fight to free the remaining hostages from Hamas’s captivity, we join Jews everywhere in echoing their plea for freedom,” said Poilievre. “Let my people go. Freedom for Israelis is to live in peace and security in their ancestral homeland, and freedom for Jewish people around the world is to live free from antisemitism, where they can pray and worship and serve God and their community in peace and safety.”
Carney did not reply to a request for comment from True North.