Israel must answer for denying Canadian delegation’s entry, MPs tell Anand

In a letter sent to Anand, NDP MP Jenny Kwan and Liberal MP Gurbux Saini called that behaviour "an egregious violation of personal dignity and basic diplomatic norms."

Two MPs from a delegation that was denied access to the West Bank earlier this week are asking Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand to get Israel to explain the harsh treatment of one of their colleagues.

Several witnesses told The Canadian Press they saw Israeli border officials push Ontario Liberal MP Iqra Khalid while the approximately 30-person delegation was held up at the Allenby Crossing for several hours on Tuesday.

In a letter sent to Anand late Thursday, NDP MP Jenny Kwan and Liberal MP Gurbux Saini — also members of the delegation — called that behaviour “an egregious violation of personal dignity and basic diplomatic norms.”

The MPs also attached a copy of a form they allege some delegation members were pushed to sign under duress.

The document, printed on State of Israel letterhead, asks subjects to acknowledge “public security or public safety or public order considerations” as the reason for their denied entry.

Kwan and Saini said they want Anand to find out what the ramifications are for anyone who signed the document and if they will have trouble entering Israel or other nations as a result.

“The physical mistreatment of a Canadian MP, the arbitrary denial of entry to an entire delegation, and the imposition of stigmatizing security declarations are not minor diplomatic irritants,” the MPs wrote.

“They are serious affronts to Canada’s sovereignty, to the dignity of our elected representatives, and to the expectation that allies engage one another in good faith.”