The Israeli Embassy in Canada as well as Canadian Jewish groups rebuked a tweet from New Democratic Party (NDP) Member of Parliament (MP) Matthew Green that said Israel demolished a Palestinian testing center for COVID-19.
Green tweeted on July 19, “Hundreds have contacted my office with serious concerns over the Israeli gov’s military stoppage of a #COVID testing centre in #Hebron #Palestine. I condemn this blatant disregard for human life during this pandemic.”
Hundreds have contacted my office with serious concerns over the Israeli gov’s military stoppage of a #COVID testing centre in #Hebron #Palestine.
I condemn this blatant disregard for human life during this pandemic.
The order must be lifted and centre built to save lives. pic.twitter.com/tus5BoIEau
— Matthew Green 🍊 (@MatthewGreenNDP) July 19, 2020
The Israeli embassy responded to Green noting that the facility in question had been operating illegally in Silwan — which is located in Jerusalem’s Old City — and there are several health centers close to Silwan that provide free COVID-19 services to anyone.
(2/7) There are dozens of health facilities within a 5km radius of Silwan (excluding 7!! major hospitals) legally administering #COVID19 tests and treatment to ALL, regardless of religion/cultural background. Each pin represents a health clinic offering FREE healthcare to all. pic.twitter.com/GkP97o26xZ
— Embassy of Israel (@IsraelinCanada) July 23, 2020
(3/7) Silwan is adherent to the national policy in place to combat the spread of COVID-19. Just as it would not be acceptable for an unauthorized makeshift “testing” facility to be constructed in someone’s front yard in Hamilton, it is also the case in Israel.
— Embassy of Israel (@IsraelinCanada) July 23, 2020
(4/7) Clinics/hospitals in Israel, including in Jerusalem, have administered over 166,000 tests per million people to date. These facilities are staffed by Muslims, Jews, and Christians without discrimination.
— Embassy of Israel (@IsraelinCanada) July 23, 2020
B’nai Brith Canada and the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA) tweeted a link to a July 23 Jerusalem Post story stating that the demolish facility was a planned car dealership and not a COVID-19 testing center or health clinic. The building was located in Area C of the West Bank, which Israel controls.
“Do your homework before sharing conspiracy theories with your base,” B’nai Brith Canada tweeted in response to Green. “While you are at it, kindly delete this tweet & apologize for spreading false claims.”
.@MatthewGreenNDP you are amplifying lies about Israel. A Palestinian #COVID19 testing centre was not demolished. Do your homework before sharing conspiracy theories with your base. While you are at it, kindly delete this tweet & apologize for spreading false claims. /1 #canpoli https://t.co/v0BRMjI1Vg
— B'nai Brith Canada (@bnaibrithcanada) July 23, 2020
The CIJA similarly tweeted, “@MatthewGreenNDP perpetuated a falsehood about #Israel demolishing a #Palestinian #COVID19 testing centre. That is a lie. Mr. Green should delete his tweet and apologize.”
.@MatthewGreenNDP perpetuated a falsehood about #Israel demolishing a #Palestinian #COVID19 testing centre. That is a lie. Mr. Green should delete his tweet and apologize. #cdnpoli
https://t.co/mMeLKqLA0R https://t.co/d4Y09qy1xd
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) July 23, 2020
MP's have a responsibility to deal in facts and verify that what they are spreading on social media is true.
— CIJA (@CIJAinfo) July 23, 2020
Green’s office did not respond to the Journal’s request for comment.
A May 7 Jerusalem Post report highlighted how Israel has donated test kits and testing swabs to Palestinians as well as provided training to Palestinian doctors on how to properly handle COVID-19 patients. In March, United Nations Special Coordinator for the Middle East Process Nickolay Mladenov hailed the Israel-Palestinian cooperation on the COVID-19 pandemic as “excellent.”
