Montreal Woman Challenges Passport Officials on Birth Country Listing

A Jewish woman from Montreal, Anastasia Zorchinsky, was initially told by a passport office employee that she could not list Israel as her birthplace due to it being a “conflict zone,” and was offered Palestine as an alternative. After questioning this policy, officials later allowed her to designate Israel, but she criticized the lack of supporting documents for the initial claim. Her lawyer, Neil Oberman, argued that passport services should not be influenced by political issues, and he sought clarification and training for staff on the matter. The Center for Israel and Jewish Affairs expressed concern, stating such incidents are unacceptable for all Canadians accessing government services.

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