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Israel's ambassador to Canada apparently skipped an event in Yellowknife as part of a ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Tour of Ambassadors in June.

City councillor Ryan Fequet said if the ambassador had shown up, he and others would not have attended.

City of Yellowknife communications advisor Saxon Chung explained that Global Affairs Canada, a federal department, asked the city to host a welcome reception, which included world ambassadors as well as city councillors and staff.

Though Israel was listed on the itinerary, its ambassador, Iddo Moed, did not appear. Fequet told ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø that if he had, Fequet would have boycotted, and he said he wasn't alone.

"There were a bunch of councillors who were not going to go if that ambassador was present," said Fequet. "We got word the morning of that [event], that person had dropped out."

Beyond that, Fequet said he didn't hear any other details.

Coun. Garrett Cochrane said he believes that, given Israel's current situation with the wars in both Palestine and Iran, it was probably best if the country's ambassador stayed in Ottawa.

Though he can't confirm, he also suspects Israel skipped the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø Tour altogether. That tour, which happens every two years, takes world ambassadors across Yukon and Nunavut as well.

Cochrane said the tour provides all ambassadors a chance to understand the North better and a chance to boost potential trade and investment between countries.

Chantelle Masson, who works in GNWT cabinet communications, told ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø that Industry, Tourism and Investment Minister Caitlin Cleveland never met with Israel's ambassador. Cleveland was, however, scheduled to host a lunch for the ambassadors on June 20.

When asked to provide a list of ambassadors in attendance and specifically if Israel was part of it, the territorial government refused, pointing the finger at Global Affairs.

Asked the same question, the federal department also declined to disclose that information.

"For security and privacy reasons, additional details regarding the tour cannot be provided at this time," said a spokesperson for Global Affairs. That’s in spite of the city inviting local businesses, one of which was a media outlet, to the event.

The Israeli embassy to Canada, located in Ottawa, could not be reached for comment on Monday. 

While in Yellowknife on June 19, South Africa's envoy to Canada, Rieaz Shaik, stood alongside pro-Palestinian advocates downtown calling for sanctions against Israel.

Advocacy group YK Citizens for Ceasefire, who Shaik joined briefly, said in a statement to ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø that Shaik was happy to talk to the group and requested a picture.

"Countries — including Canada — must unite to stop the ongoing genocide in Gaza, and hold Israel accountable for their ongoing crimes," said Shannon Moore, a member of YK Citizens for Ceasefire.