By Rick Kardonne
Tribune Correspondent
MISSISSAUGA – While Omar Alghabra, the federal Liberal candidate for Mississauga-Erindale, has rejected allegations that he made pro-Islamist statements at his nomination meeting – allegations that have subsequently been retracted – his statements regarding the Middle East could be a cause for concern.
Alghabra, former head of the Canadian Arab Federation, told the Jewish Tribune that he has “always spoken out against extremism and violence against civilians.” But when asked whether he would specifically denounce suicide bombers, he would not comment, claiming that he was being “trapped.”
“I am against the occupation of civilians,” he said. “I believe in the Palestinian right of self-determination. I believe in a two-state solution.”
But what about Hamas, who, according to an Agence-France dispatch, with files from Reuters, in the Dec. 29 National Post, “is committed to Israel’s destruction?” Alghabra replied: “I don’t believe that Hamas wants the elimination of Israel.”
He wants Israel to totally return to its borders before the Six Day War in 1967, “in accordance with (UN) Resolution 242.”
When reminded that 242 reads that Israel withdraw from “territories,” not “all territories” regained in the Six Day War, Algahbra replied: “242 means all territories.”
When asked whether his Middle East position represented Liberal Party policy, Alghabra replied, “Yes.”
Steve Heckbert, a spokesman for the Ontario wing of the federal Liberal Party, told the Jewish Tribune that Alghabra is correct on this matter: his position represents Canadian government policy on the Middle East, which is the same as the Liberal Party policy. He said the party does favour an Israeli pullback to the borders before the Six Day War, including the relinquishing of Judea, Samaria, the Golan Heights, and the Old City of Jerusalem and surrounding eastern Jerusalem, but “this should not be done immediately, and this withdrawal should not be unilateral.”
Controversy over Alghabra vis-à-vis the Middle East first arose from a Dec. 19 press release from the Canadian Coalition for Democracy (CCD), claiming that Alghabra, in his victory speech after winning the Liberal Party nomination for Mississauga-Erindale, said: “This is a victory for Islam – Islamic power is extending into Canadian politics.”
After several witnesses, including controversial departing MP Carolyn Parrish, denied that Alghabra had made these statements, which were instead attributed to Markham Councillor Khalid Usman, who had first sought the nomination and then supported Alghabra, the CCD issued a retraction and an apology. Then Usman, as well, denied invoking Islam during the nomination meeting. Alghabra told the Jewish Tribune that Usman did not make this statement. Usman said that the charges were racially motivated.
CCD President Alistair Gordon apologized for his initial allegation against Alghabra.
“I take full responsibility,” he said. “I have now talked to a number of different people and the mistake was mine.”
Alghabra rejected the apology. According to a story in the Dec. 24 issue of the Toronto Star, Alghabra said: “I’m pursuing legal action,” although he did not say against whom. In a Liberal Party brief, Liberal Candidate Target of Ethnic Smear Campaign, the Liberals charged that the CCD’s motives in making these allegations came from members with links to two Conservative candidates as well as the Conservative Party’s regional organizer in Toronto, Georgeanne Burke.
Meanwhile, Alghabra said that he would be soon be meeting with Rabbi Lawrence Englander, spiritual leader of Solel Congregation, which is situated in his Mississauga-Erindale riding. He did not state a purpose for the meeting and Rabbi Englander could not be reached for comment.
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