When Suddenly Everything is Palestinian-Political

"We always aimed to avoid political involvement, focusing solely on raising funds for CHEO [Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario]."

"Unfortunately, we were unaware of the complexities tied to the Gaza situation."

"Our personal opinions about what's happening in Palestine has nothing to do with Juice Dudez. Juice Dudez will never, ever be bullied into talking about politics."

"We're here to make people happy and healthier."

Nasr Nasr, owner, Juice Dudez, Ottawa juice bar

"As mayor [of Ottawa], I am focused on the people of Ottawa and doing everything possible to keep our community and our residents safe."

"I will continue to do everything I can to ensure we are fighting back against rising hatred and racism until our community is safe for everyone."

"Every life matters. And everyone who has lost a loved one is suffering equally."

Ottawa Mayor Mark Sutcliffe

"This isn't a political issue like you have implied: it's a humanitarian crisis. Canada today supports and personally funds the ethnic cleansing of an entire nation."

"It is your moral duty as a Canadian and as an Arab to speak out against this."

Staying 'not political' is an unacceptable stance."

Ibrahim Helmy, Instagram post to Nasr Nasr

Nasr Nasr is the owner of Juice Dudez stores in Ottawa. Photo by Tony Caldwell /Postmedia

Pure inadvertence that an apolitical juice bar owner has been inducted involuntarily into the overheated politics surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Nor did he ever imagine that by inviting the mayor of Ottawa to a CHEO fundraiser that he would become a target for pro-Palestinian rage. Suddenly, however, Nasr Nasr finds both himself personally and his business the target of online slander resulting from a fundraising event he staged on December 8 to benefit the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, based solely on having the mayor of the city in appearance. The goal was not to become a target of pro-Palestinian slander, but to raise $10,000 to benefit the hospital.

Now, the juice bar owner sees himself on the wrong end of support for the Hamas massacre in southern Israel, undoubtedly not his intent, but now his punishment for ignoring the strident threats being issued against politicians by those purporting to be concerned over Palestinian welfare, barely masking their hatred for Israel and chanting 'gas the Jews' and 'final solution', along with other messages, like 'intefada!' and 'from the river (Jordan) to the sea (Mediterranean); aka destruction of Israel. No one is immune from the pressure and some defy it.

Now, a boycott campaign has been launched where Nasr sees his business given poor online reviews, calls for a boycott of his business, and  his messaging inbox filled with hate mail. On his Instagram post, Nasr was pilloried for not having taken a public stand on the military campaign unleashed by Israel in response to the Hamas bloodbath of Israelis in southern Israel on October 7. That Nasr shook hands with Mayor Sutcliffe has enraged his accusers, viewing the mayor as pro-Israeli.

The mayor has adopted a locally focused approach to the Middle East conflict, condemning the terror attacks by Hamas terrorists, and giving his opinion that Israel has the right to self-defence. He has angered his critics by failing to call for a ceasefire in Gaza. He  has met with Palestinian families with extended family members in Gaza, and coordinated an effort in mid-October resulting in over 50 local faith leaders issuing a joint statement renouncing all forms of hate, discrimination and violence in the city.

In some Canadian municipalities such as Brampton, Ontario and Burnaby, B.C. motions were passed demanding a Gaza ceasefire. The National Council of Canadian Muslims called on all Canadian municipalities to do the same. Born in Lebanon, Nasr founded his business four years earlier and has stores in several locations in the city selling smoothies, juices, desserts, waffles, crepes, gelato and coffee. He feels his personal opinions of the situation in Gaza are just that; not part of his business.

Some of the personal message he has received have also been supportive, such as one that wrote "I feel so strongly about what's happening in Palestine, I can't even sleep, but boycotting our own people with no good reason is the last thing we need". He has responded to the pressure by inviting any one of his critics to his store and he would be pleased to serve them with a hot chocolate and they could then have a chat.