"However, the NDP must recognize that embracing a pro-Palestine stance is not just about securing votes; it is about standing on the right side of history and opposing complicity in Israel’s genocide in occupied Gaza. One does not need to be Palestinian to oppose Israel’s ethnic cleansing."
October 25, 2024
Re: “OPINION: How Palestine could cost the B.C. NDP an election win”
Saeed Naguib’s op-ed, “How Palestine could cost the B.C. NDP an election win,” sheds light on a pivotal moment in Canadian politics that warrants our attention. We are witnessing a profound shift in party loyalties and voter behavior, particularly with the increasing influence of the Muslim community in Surrey.
As Naguib rightly stated, the party's refusal to include the Nakba in educational curricula, its unwillingness to divest from companies profiting from Israel’s illegal occupation of the Palestinian territories, and its glaring silence regarding Israel's ongoing genocide in occupied Gaza have left many Muslims feeling marginalized and unheard. This has led the Muslim community to support independent candidates who ran on pro-Palestinian platforms, capturing votes that could have otherwise bolstered NDP candidates.
This shift signals a critical turning point: voters will seek alternatives when their concerns are ignored and when they feel unrepresented. The B.C. NDP must adopt a more principled stance as their current policies risk further alienating the Muslim community.
However, the NDP must recognize that embracing a pro-Palestine stance is not just about securing votes; it is about standing on the right side of history and opposing complicity in Israel’s genocide in occupied Gaza. One does not need to be Palestinian to oppose Israel’s ethnic cleansing. One does not need to be Palestinian to empathize with Palestinians who have been forcibly displaced and are enduring Israel’s daily bombings. Just as the world rallied against apartheid in South Africa in the 1980s, we must unite against Israel’s systemic violations of international law. History will judge us for our inaction and for failing to stand up for our brothers and sisters in occupied Gaza.