MONTREAL – A small group of fringe anti-Zionist Jewish activists has issued a public letter urging the New Democratic Party to allow author and activist Yves Engler to participate in the party’s leadership race. The letter, released this week and signed by approximately 100 individuals, argues that Engler’s extreme criticism of Israel should not be grounds for barring him from the candidacy.
Engler, a long-time activist known for accusing Israel of “apartheid” and “genocide,” has become one of Canada’s most outspoken anti-Israel commentators. His inclusion in the NDP race has been widely opposed within the mainstream Jewish community, where his rhetoric is regarded as inflammatory and disconnected from the lived experiences of Jewish Canadians facing rising antisemitism.
The Letter and Its Signatories
The letter claims that Engler’s criticism of Israel reflects valid political discourse and urges the NDP not to cite Jewish community concerns as a reason to exclude him. The signatories describe themselves as Jewish Canadians who oppose Israel’s policies and accuse the party of avoiding discussion on Gaza in the first leadership debate.
“We reject any effort to cite Judaism or the Jewish community as grounds for restricting NDP members’ right to make up their own minds,” the signatories wrote. They insist that Engler’s language, although “strong,” is grounded in what they describe as “international law” and “justice.”
Among the signatories are long-time activists associated with far-left groups, including Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) and Palestinian and Jewish Unity. Prominent names include former rabbi David Mivasair, journalist Aaron Maté, and several retired academics, artists, and activists known for their opposition to Zionism.
The list also includes individuals with no leadership roles in the Jewish community but who identify personally as Jewish or with Jewish heritage. Mainstream Jewish institutions say the signatories represent a small and unrepresentative fringe.
Mainstream Jewish Response
Jewish community organizations have long cautioned that fringe anti-Zionist activists who identify as Jewish do not speak for the community. Surveys consistently show that Canadian Jews overwhelmingly support Israel’s right to exist and oppose the demonization of Israel in political discourse.
A spokesperson for CIJA, speaking earlier this year about similar activist campaigns, noted that fringe groups “provide political cover for efforts that single out Israel unfairly and misrepresent the views of Jewish Canadians.”
The signatories of the letter stand in stark contrast to major Canadian Jewish institutions, which have condemned Engler’s rhetoric and warned that his claims minimize the atrocities committed by Hamas on October 7 and fuel hostility toward Jewish Canadians.
Engler’s Record and Criticism of Israel
Engler’s writing routinely accuses Israel of “genocide” and asserts that Canada is complicit in Israel’s military operations. His commentary sharply criticizes Israel’s security actions in Gaza and Judea and Samaria, and he has repeatedly dismissed concerns about rising antisemitism in Canada as exaggerated.
Critics, including scholars of antisemitism, argue that Engler’s framing delegitimizes Israel’s existence and contributes to hostility toward Jewish communities. They also note that his claims of “genocide” are at odds with expert analyses and legal standards.
NDP Leadership Context
The NDP leadership race has become a focal point for internal tensions within the party over Israel, foreign policy, and the handling of campus unrest. In the first televised debate, candidates did not focus on Gaza or Israel, prompting criticism from segments of the party’s activist base.
Supporters of Engler hope his presence will push candidates to adopt stronger pro-Palestinian positions. Opponents argue his inclusion would legitimize rhetoric that many Canadians regard as extreme.
The NDP has not yet announced whether Engler will be allowed to run. Party officials are reviewing eligibility criteria, which include membership standing and adherence to party values.
A Fringe Movement Positioning Itself as Jewish Consensus
The public letter asserts that Jewish Canadians hold a wide spectrum of opinions on Israel. While this is true in broad terms, polling consistently shows strong attachment to Israel across generational lines and deep concern about the rise of antisemitism in Canada.
Experts note that fringe anti-Zionist Jewish individuals, despite being vocal, have limited representation in synagogues, community institutions, or Jewish civic organizations. Many of the signatories are retired academics, artists, or members of an activist network rather than community leaders accountable to Jewish constituencies.
The attempt to use Jewish identity as political cover for Engler’s rhetoric has drawn criticism from many Jewish Canadians who say such positioning misrepresents the mainstream community’s views.
The public letter urging the NDP to allow Yves Engler into its leadership race reflects the activism of a small, fringe group of anti-Zionist Jews whose views diverge sharply from mainstream Jewish opinion in Canada. As the NDP reviews candidate eligibility, the letter has reignited debate about the role of fringe voices in shaping discourse on Israel and the boundaries of political criticism in a time of rising antisemitism.
