To many political observers, especially on the pro-Israel side of the post-October 7 tumult, Montreal MP Anthony Housefather seemed like the ideal choice to take up a new government position fighting antisemitism. He is certainly seized with the issue, being the Liberal caucus’s most strident opponent of the anti-Israel protests, encampments, rallies and marches since Oct. 7 last year — all of which he routinely describes (often with good reason) as shot through with antisemitism, if not antisemitic by nature.