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The Palestinian General Delegation in Ottawa has released a statement saying it “condemns Israel’s assault on Canadian free speech” after Israel’s ambassador to Canada criticized an art exhibit at Ottawa City Hall Friday.

According to the statement, which also accuses Israel of widespread ill-treatment of Palestinian prisoners, the delegation is “unsurprised” that the Israeli ambassador would “stoop to the level of interfering in a local exhibit,” adding that the delegation encourages people to see the exhibit before judging it.

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The statement also said the delegation applauds the “brave decision by City Hall to reject Israeli censorship and uphold Canada’s free speech laws.”

Israel’s ambassador Rafael Barak said Friday the exhibit, which includes images of Palestinian prisoners behind bars, is “glorifying terror.”

The ambassador’s statement came one day after his meeting with Mayor Jim Watson to discuss his concerns about the exhibit. Controversy around the display has caused the city to review how art is selected for the Karsh-Masson Art Gallery by an independent panel and to start posting public notices saying the work doesn’t reflect the municipal government’s views.