Nova Scotia NDP candidate ousted over ‘hurtful’ anti-Israel rhetoric

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A New Democrat Party candidate in Nova Scotia who made offensive comments about Jews and Israel on social media is out of the race.

The party issued a statement late Saturday saying Tammy Jakeman, its candidate for Eastern Passage, is no longer running.

“New Democrats are committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of all members of the Jewish community and Nova Scotians of all faiths. We recognize that everyone running for office has a responsibility to ensure that their comments do not cause undue harm,” said a written statement from party spokeswoman Alana Cahill.

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“Ms. Jakeman has apologized for the harm her comments have caused, and she is no longer running as an NSNDP candidate. She shares our belief that the focus of our campaign must remain on delivering solutions to the issues facing Nova Scotians.”

NDP Leader Claudia Chender was not made available for an interview. Nova Scotians go to the polls Nov. 26.

“In recent tweets, Jakeman accused Israel of genocide, demeaned Holocaust remembrance efforts, and described Israel as ‘happiest when terrorizing Palestinians,’” said a joint statement issued by the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs and the Atlantic Jewish Council before Jakeman ended her candidacy.

“It is profoundly disappointing to see a political candidate making such inflammatory and hurtful accusations. Jakeman’s use of the term ‘genocide’ in reference to Israel and her apparent dismissal of the Auschwitz Memorial’s message to honour Holocaust victims are both deeply offensive.

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“Accusing those who suffered through the Holocaust of perpetuating genocide not only shows a troubling lack of historical understanding but also serves to distort and diminish recognized acts of genocide, such as the Holocaust.”

The two Jewish organizations questioned why Jakeman “was allowed to run under the NDP banner despite her deeply offensive” comments.

Jakeman is an educational assistant and CUPE activist.

The Tory candidate for the riding, Barbara Adams, who is minister responsible for the Office of Equity and Anti-Racism, noted Jakeman has run previously for the NDP, but Chender should have rejected her candidacy on the basis of her public statements.

“Nova Scotians need and deserve a full accounting from Claudia Chender about how she let Ms. Jakeman run with her public record of harmful statements.”

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