Activist who questioned Hamas intentions joins Canada's antisemitism panel

Key Points:

• Prime Minister Mark Carney announced the creation of a new racism advisory board to assess antisemitism in Canada, appointing diverse members including politicians, activists, and academics.
• Controversy arose as the board includes Omar Alghabra, former Canadian Arab Federation president, who previously challenged labeling the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades as a terrorist group and downplayed the radicalism of Hamas and Hezbollah.
• Alghabra has a history of criticizing media coverage perceived as biased against Arabs and Muslims and has expressed sympathy for Palestinian leaders and causes, drawing concern from some Jewish communities.
• Another appointee, lawyer Avnish Nanda, represented activists involved in a 2024 University of Alberta anti-Israel protest encampment that was dismantled by police, despite a report finding no evidence of antisemitism among organizers.
• The encampment had controversial elements, including signage promoting "Globalize the intifada" and support for Palestinian prisoners linked to militant groups, raising questions about the advisory board's composition amid rising antisemitism.