Israeli ambassador suggests diplomats in West Bank led astray to provoke IDF
Israel’s ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, has suggested that there may have been a deliberate effort to provoke Israeli soldiers before they fired warning shots in the vicinity of a diplomatic delegation, which included Canadians, in the West Bank. Four members of a Canadian delegation were part of a tour in the city of Jenin when members of the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) fired warning shots in the area. The delegation consisted of two Canadian citizens, including Ottawa’s top diplomat in the West Bank, and two locally hired staff. Fortunately, no one was injured during the incident.
During an interview with CBC News Network’s Power & Politics, Ambassador Moed raised concerns about the diplomats potentially being led astray to intentionally provoke the IDF soldiers. He pointed out that the delegation had deviated from an approved route and had approached a barrier where the soldiers were stationed. Moed emphasized that there seemed to be no reason for the diplomats to walk into the barrier unless their intention was to provoke a reaction.
A video of the incident circulating online shows members of the tour group speaking to cameras near a large yellow gate, with gunshots heard as the group quickly moves away from the area. The IDF stated that soldiers fired warning shots to get the delegation to move after they had deviated from the approved route. However, the Palestinian Authority disputed this narrative, stating that the delegation had listened to a briefing by the Governor of Jenin before the IDF opened fire towards them.
Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed his concerns over the incident and called for a full investigation, deeming the actions of the IDF as “totally unacceptable.” Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand summoned Ambassador Moed to convey Canada’s serious concerns regarding the incident. The foreign ministers of France and Italy also issued summons to their respective Israeli ambassadors in response to the incident.
Ambassador Moed defended the Israeli government’s handling of the situation, stating that they have been forthcoming with information and have taken responsibility for investigating the incident. He emphasized that there was no need for formal summons as the government was already addressing the matter transparently.
The incident comes at a tense moment in Canadian-Israeli relations, with Prime Minister Netanyahu condemning Carney, Starmer, and Macron for threatening sanctions on Israel over its actions in Gaza. Netanyahu accused the leaders of emboldening Hamas and being on the wrong side of humanity and history.
In conclusion, the incident involving the Canadian diplomatic delegation in the West Bank has sparked tensions between Israel and Canada. The response from both governments and the ongoing investigation will be crucial in determining the outcome of this incident and its impact on diplomatic relations between the two countries.
