Minister sorry for 'crappy piece of land' remark that angered pro-Palestinian groups
CTV
B.C. Premier David Eby says Post-Secondary Education Minister Selina Robinson needs to "repair the damage" caused by her comments that Israel was founded on a "crappy piece of land," angering pro-Palestinian groups and triggering calls for her resignation.
B.C. Premier David Eby says Post-Secondary Education Minister Selina Robinson needs to "repair the damage" caused by her comments that Israel was founded on a "crappy piece of land," angering pro-Palestinian groups and triggering calls for her resignation.
Eby says the remarks were “totally unacceptable,” and “increase division” in the province at a time when people of Palestinian descent are feeling alienated.
Robinson apologized in a social media post on Thursday, saying her comments were “disrespectful,” and she had been referring to the land having limited natural resources.
She made the original remarks in an online panel discussion with Jewish politicians hosted by B'nai Brith Canada.
Video of the discussion streamed on YouTube on Tuesday shows Robinson lamenting a lack of knowledge about the origins of modern Israel, saying the land on which it was founded “had nothing on it,” before adding that there were “several hundred thousand people.”
Robinson said in her apology on the social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, that her remarks diminished “the connection that Palestinians also have to the land,” and she apologized unreservedly.
Groups including Independent Jewish Voices Canada have called for Robinson to resign over the remarks.
