Canadian Minister Resigns Following Comment that Angered Pro-Palestinian Supporters

A minister in the government of British Columbia, Canada, has resigned after stating last week that Israel was founded on "bad land," a remark that sparked outrage among pro-Palestinian groups. Selina Robinson made these comments during a discussion at a committee meeting on Thursday and apologized in a statement on Friday. She acknowledged that her "long-winded comment" diminished the connection of Palestinians to their land as well. David Eby, Premier of British Columbia, noted that he made the decision jointly with Robinson, the province's Minister of Advanced Education, that she should step down after reaching out to many communities affected by her comments. Eby added at a press conference, "Selina's comments were wrong; she crossed a line and belittled a group of people who are already under tremendous pressure due to the war in the Middle East."