B'nai Brith Canada has raised alarms regarding the Canadian Museum for Human Rights upcoming Nakba exhibit due to potential foreign interference issues.

Palestine Uprooted: Nakba Past and Present is scheduled to launch on June 27, 2026. The display aims to examine human rights concerns tied to the ongoing forced displacement and dispossession of Palestinians through personal accounts via objects, video testimonies, art, photos, and text.

Although the CMHR indicated the exhibition was created with input from a network of scholars, B'nai Brith noted uncertainty over whether officials consulted credible historians or obtained suitable perspectives from Jewish and Israeli Canadians.

Our concerns focus on the exhibit's proposed content and the museum's shortcomings in conducting a proper, meaningful, and transparent consultation with relevant stakeholders, the organization stated on Tuesday.

Concerns CMHR exhibit could incite hatred and advance revisionism

Amid Canada's current antisemitism crisis fueled partly by distortions of Zionism and Israeli history, we worry the CMHR exhibit may incite hatred and push revisionist views.

B'nai Brith's transparency worries coincide with reports suggesting foreign actors influenced the exhibit's consultation or development.

Internal emails reviewed by the National Post revealed senior CMHR officials discussed the matter with the Palestinian representative to Canada, who sought involvement in the project.

In a December 4, 2024 email, Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba, inquired with CMHR vice-president Matthew Cutler and CEO Isha Khan about arranging a meeting for the Palestinian ambassador to Canada to receive updates and explore assistance opportunities.

Cutler agreed to the meeting two days later.

The Palestinian General Delegation confirmed the meeting occurred but declined to share details discussed.

Montreal lawyer Neil Oberman highlighted potential violations of the Museums Act mandate, which requires the CMHR to explore human rights with emphasis on Canada to foster understanding, respect, and dialogue.

B'nai Brith deemed it unacceptable for a foreign official to influence a Crown corporation's decisions and called for a full transparent investigation while urging a delay of the exhibit opening.

Anything less would further damage credibility and heighten harm to the Jewish community and all Canadians.