A Jewish human rights group has condemned the “hysteria” surrounding comments about Israel made by the MP for Vancouver East.

In a video interview posted on-line, New Democrat Deputy Leader Libby Davies stated her belief that Israel has been occupying Palestinian lands since its independence in 1948.

The remarks, made earlier this month, have been denounced by the Conservatives, Liberals, and officials in her own party. Liberal foreign affairs critic Bob Rae has said “the logical implication of these comments is that Israel has no right to exist”.

But Larry Haiven, a spokesperson for Independent Jewish Voices—Canada, said he was shocked by the NDP’s reaction against Davies, who has apologized and clarified her position.

“They should back off,” Haiven told the Straight today (June 16) by phone from Quebec City.

“Unless we start to deal sanely with historical facts, without being accused of being anti-Israel, then neither the NDP nor anyone else will be able to deal intelligently with reaching peace between the Israelis and Palestinians,” he said. “I mean, this hysteria has got to stop.”

Haiven’s group argues the controversy around the comment that occupation began in 1948 is unfounded. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians were displaced that year in what is known as the “Nakba”, which occurred during the Israeli War of Independence, according to the group.

“Why is everybody making such a big fuss about it?” Haiven said, referring to Davies’ comments.

“This would possibly not happen in any other country except Canada, maybe the United States, because it’s generally acknowledged that Israel took over Palestinian lands in 1948 that weren’t theirs according to the UN partition agreement. It’s just not controversial at all.”

Haiven said the comments, which appear in a YouTube video recorded during an anti-Israel rally in Vancouver, do not imply the Middle East state has no right to exist.

Last week, Davies issued a statement that describes her comments as “a serious and completely inadvertent error”.

“I reject the allegation that I hate Israel, and I reject the assertion that I said that Israel is illegitimate or an abomination. Neither are true,” Davies stated.