Canada to UN: Don’t appoint our anti-Israel prof

Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion has joined the chorus of voices calling on the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to review its appointment of a Canadian law professor with an alleged history of anti-Israel bias to a key Middle East position.

 

Western University law professor Michael Lynk was named on Thursday the UNHRC’s special rapporteur on human rights in “Palestine”. The following day, Dion tweeted his government’s concern at the appointment.

 

“We call on UNHRC President to review this appointment & ensure Special Rapporteur has track record that can advance peace in the region.” Dion stated adding that the human rights council should appoint a “professional, neutral and credible” candidate.

 

Canadian MPs Michael Levitt, Tony Clement and Peter Kent of the Conservative Party in Canada have also called for the professor to be disqualified from the position over his alleged anti-Israel bias.

 

“(Michael Lynk) has demonstrated repeatedly that he is unsuitable to fulfill this position through his long record of anti-Israel activity,” said Levitt according to the Canadian Jewish News. “Given the concerns that I and others have expressed to Minister Dion, I am pleased that he instructed our ambassador to Geneva to reach out to the president of the council to underscore the importance Canada assigns to ensuring that the chosen candidate meet appropriate criteria of professionalism and neutrality.”

 

Furthermore, the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs denounced Lynk saying he “has been significantly involved in anti-Israel advocacy in Canada, including signing anti-Israel petitions, calling for Israel to be prosecuted for war crimes, accusing Israel of ethnic cleansing, addressing conferences promoting one bi-national state, and serving as a leader of a group that promotes Israeli Apartheid Week.”

 

Lynk declined further comment but said he would speak further once at the appropriate time to “correct the misleading statements that have been said about me and my views”.

 

Read More: Canada to UN: Don’t appoint our anti-Israel prof – US & Canada – News – Arutz Sheva

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