Israel’s ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, has criticized the presence of hate at the Calgary Stampede, indirectly rebuking Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi for apologizing over a photo taken with him at the event.
Ambassador Moed’s Statement on Israel-Alberta Ties
In a statement, Moed emphasized that “friendship should never be controversial” and highlighted the “growing strength of the Israel–Alberta partnership” after meeting with local leaders at the Stampede. However, he added, “it’s unacceptable for hate to creep and fester into a space built on hospitality, undermining the respect and empathy that should define it.”
Nenshi’s Apology and Community Reaction
Nenshi issued a letter expressing regret for posing with Moed, stating, “I’m so sorry for the harm it caused.” He noted that after discussions with community members, he better understood the hurt caused by the photo. The two had a “brief and frank exchange” before the image was taken, according to Nenshi.
Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner publicly supported Moed, posting a photo with him and calling him “an important diplomatic stakeholder.” Quebec Senator Leo Housakos also stood “shoulder to shoulder” with Moed, praising Israel as “the only democracy in the Middle East.”
Criticism of Nenshi’s Apology
Avi Abraham Benlolo, president of the Abraham Global Peace Initiative, condemned Nenshi’s apology, stating, “No democratic leader should apologize for engaging with the accredited representative of a sovereign democratic nation.” Benlolo also noted that Nenshi referenced Gaza’s humanitarian situation but did not acknowledge the October 7 terrorist attack.
