The federal Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mélanie Joly, physically responded to criticism from a citizen who filmed her on a Montreal sidewalk on Friday to confront her about the “genocide” in Gaza.
In a video that has been circulating since Friday on social networks, we can see Mme Joly being challenged by a citizen asking him in English to “raise as many Palestinian refugees as possible” that Canada should welcome.
Immediately, the elected member of the Trudeau government then tries to grab the phone which is filming her while turning around.
“Attention! You can’t take my phone like that […] Let go of my coat. Calm down!” the man then retorts.
Mme Joly then tries to calm things down, assuring that she will “take care of the issue”, but that she “is walking”.
“I’m glad you’re relaxed. [sic] while there is [un] genocide in Palestine, but my job is to harass you […] You have no right to have a relaxed march in the city while you allow the death of Palestinians,” the citizen told him.
“Yes, I have the right, I apologize,” replied the minister, before continuing on her way.
To “startle her”
Contacted by The newspaperMinister Joly’s office justified the minister’s reaction by the effect of surprise.
“Minister Joly is always open to having conversations with her constituents, and with all Montrealers, on the issues that are most important to them. These conversations are most productive when approached with respect. In this case, it is clear that this interaction began with the intention of startling her with the goal of obtaining a clip for social media, and not a constructive conversation,” the office said in a statement. written statement.
“She attacked me”
The newspaper spoke with the citizen who said he was the one who confronted Mme Joly. He said his name was Antoine, but refused to give his full identity.
According to him, the video was filmed Friday on Laurier Avenue West, in the Plateau-Mont-Royal borough.
“I saw her in the street and I said to myself: it’s important to tell her that there is a genocide. We must allow the people of Gaza to leave,” he explained.
He said he was surprised by the reaction of the minister who, according to him, pulled the sleeve of his coat to prevent him from filming her.
“She attacked me. I feel like she just lost control. She wanted to take my phone and she couldn’t.”
According to Antoine, it is legitimate to confront politicians in this way because of the seriousness of the situation in Gaza. “When there is a genocide, it’s the least we can do.”
Mme Joly is not the first elected official to be questioned in this way by pro-Palestine activists.
In the United States, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez also lost her temper when citizens confronted her in a cinema to ask her to say that there was a genocide in Gaza a few weeks ago.