The former Toronto co-chair of Michael Ignatieff's leadership campaign, who resigned earlier this month over comments he made about Israel, is now supporting his main rival Bob Rae.

Thornhill MP Susan Kadis said she switched to Rae, a former Ontario NDP premier, because he's experienced and shares her fundamental principles, the Canadian Press reported.

Kadis withdrew her support from Ignatieff after he said Israel had committed a "war crime" in the July 30 air strike in Qana, Lebanon, during the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict. The attack killed more than two dozen people.

Israel denies the air strike was a war crime, but officials have apologized for the attack, saying they did not know civilians were in the area.

Kadis said that Ignatieff's comments were "very troubling" and that she thought "he would have a better handle on the Middle East given his years of experience on human rights and international law."

Ignatieff, the front-runner in the leadership race, has since attempted to clarify his comments, saying it's up to international bodies to decide if a war crime was committed in the air strike.