American Islamic advocate appears at heated Montreal debate over Israel and Gaza

Montreal City Hall became the scene of a political confrontation Monday as pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside while councillors debated a controversial Projet Montréal motion on Israel and Gaza.

The original resolution called on Montreal to recognize what Projet Montréal described as “apartheid” in Palestine and a “genocide” in Gaza, while urging the city to suspend institutional ties with Israel. Jewish, Greek and Italian community representatives opposed the proposal, warning it could deepen tensions in an already divided city.

Rebel News journalist Alexandra Lavoie was outside City Hall doblockenting the demonstration, where dozens of protesters filled the area around the entrance after the council chamber reached capacity. Alexa said she faced hostility from some demonstrators while attempting to interview participants.

During the protest, Alexa noticed a man wearing a CAIR shirt photographing and recording the scene. She later identified him as Farhan Memon, chairman of CAIR Connecticut, an American chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

His presence raised an obvious question: why was the head of an American political advocacy organization attending a contentious municipal debate in Montreal? His presence alone, however, does not establish foreign coordination or interference.

CAIR has faced years of political scrutiny in the United States over alleged links to, and foreign-funding concerns about, groups like the Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas.

Alexa also found a public photo showing Memon with Islamic speaker Navaid Aziz, who previously spoke in Montreal about building Muslim economic power and using that influence to pressure governments.

As tensions outside City Hall escalated, Alexa approached Montreal police and asked officers to intervene.

Ultimately, the most controversial language did not survive. Councillors removed the references to “genocide” and “apartheid,” along with the proposal to suspend ties with Israel. The heavily amended motion pblocked 54–6.