Israel's ambassador to Canada, Iddo Moed, criticized what he described as hatred entering a space meant for hospitality after Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi apologized for appearing in a photo with him at the Calgary Stampede.

Moed did not mention Nenshi by name in his public statement, but said that 'friendship should never be controversial' and emphasized the value of Alberta's relationship with Israel and the growing cooperation between the two.The controversy began after Nenshi posted a letter saying he was sorry for the harm caused by the widely shared photograph.He explained that Moed had approached him at the Stampede, that they had a brief conversation, and that a photo was taken.

Nenshi said that after speaking with members of the community, he better understood the hurt the image had caused for some people, particularly in light of the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

Moed responded that while he appreciated reconnecting with friends in Alberta during a visit that included a six-person Israeli technology delegation, it was 'unacceptable for hate to creep and fester into a space built on hospitality.

' His remarks drew support from several Canadian politicians and public figures, including Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner and Senator Leo Housakos, both of whom publicly expressed solidarity with the ambassador and Israel.

The Abraham Global Peace Initiative also criticized Nenshi's apology, arguing that democratic leaders should not apologize for engaging with an accredited representative of another democratic country.

The debate has become part of a broader discussion in Canadian politics about Israel, Gaza, pluralism, and the boundaries of political solidarity and criticism.