Appointing Nanaia Mahuta as Foreign Minister and Peeni Henare in Defence is a welcome relief and brings fresh pairs of eyes to long-neglected issues.
In the previous term of government several important foreign policy issues took a back seat after Labour contracted out Foreign Affairs and Defence to New Zealand First. Winston Peters as Foreign Minister and Ron Mark as Defence Minister were left to run their portfolios unchallenged and Palestine was the biggest loser.
Winston Peters “marked time” on the Middle East. He stayed silent when Israeli soldiers shot dead hundreds of unarmed Palestinian protestors – many of them children – in the Great March of Return protests in Gaza. He refused to speak out against Israel’s racist Nation State law and only managed some tepid opposition to US/Israel plans to annex vast areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories earlier this year.
Meanwhile Peters’ pushed through cabinet an Agreement on Cooperation in Technological Innovation, Research and Development with Israel which was signed by the government in March this year despite the annexation plans.
Ironically the previous National-led government had a stronger policy of support for Palestine. Not only did it co-sponsor United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 which targeted illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land but National also delayed signing a New Zealand-Israel Film Co-production Agreement until 2015, because it thought that signing the Agreement while Israel was attacking Gaza the previous year was ‘not a good look.’
Winston Peters had no such qualms despite Israel’s announcement of plans to blatantly breach international law through seizure of more Palestinian land.
In moving forward now Nanaia Mahuta has work to do.
In the first 100 days of the new government New Zealand should finally recognise the State of Palestine. The indigenous people of Palestine deserve nothing less.
Successive New Zealand governments have claimed to take an “even-handed” approach to the Middle East but this is untrue. We have extensive bilateral arrangements with Israel but minimal interaction with Palestinians.
Joining the majority of countries in the world and recognising the State of Palestine (138 out of 193 countries already take this position) would be an important step forward.
Secondly New Zealand should make its relations with Israel conditional on Israeli compliance with its international law responsibilities, in particular the issues of ending the brutal military occupation of Palestinian territories, ending racist laws which discriminate against Palestinian Israelis and requiring the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
The Israeli occupation of the entire area of historic Palestine is probably the longest running military occupation in modern history. There is no more time for pious words.
We must say to Israel that until it abides by international law New Zealand will suspend our range of bilateral agreements with Israel; prohibit the importation of Israeli products, including those made in illegal settlements, and instruct the Superannuation Fund and the Accident Compensation Corporation to disinvest in any company involved in the illegal settlements or land confiscation in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Earlier this year the United Nations Human Rights Council identified 112 companies which are thumbing their noses at international law. New Zealand should withdraw its investments from these companies.
It’s gone on too long. There is no more time for pious words.
The same applies in West Papua and Western Sahara.
West Papuans have also been betrayed by New Zealand under Winston Peters. These are our close Pacific neighbours living under particularly cruel Indonesian military rule. We have stood by, turning a blind eye, just as we previously betrayed the people of East Timor. Nanaia Mahuta is well placed to work with other Pacific countries in bringing pressure to liberate West Papua.
Meanwhile the people of Western Sahara continue to be exploited by New Zealand. The Saharawi people of the area live under Moroccan occupation while their phosphate deposits are mined for sale overseas. And which is the last country in the world to import phosphate fertiliser stolen from the people of Western Sahara? – New Zealand! A shameful embarrassment which should be ended in the first 100 days.
In Defence it has been a similar story under New Zealand First. Minister of Defence Ron Mark visited Israel in January last year and the outcome was deeply embarrassing.
Not only did Mark meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and give an awful display of obsequiousness on New Zealand’s behalf but he visited the huge Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems to check out the latest military equipment which has been “battle-tested” on Palestinians.
Ron Mark was apparently unaware that in 2012 the New Zealand Superfund withdrew its investments from Elbit Systems because the company was helping build the Israeli “security” wall (widely dubbed the “apartheid” wall) which the International Court of Justice declared illegal.
Not surprisingly, given the well-established lack of moral values in our Defence Force leadership, the organisation has continued to purchase military equipment from Elbit Systems.
Ron Mark and the Defence Force appear oblivious to any moral issues. Mark simply said the purchase of “niche” military equipment from Elbit Systems overrode other concerns.
New Zealand defence and foreign policy must have an ethical basis which aligns with international law and United Nations resolutions.
Nanaia Mahuta and Peeni Henare have important work to do to bring New Zealand onto the right side of Human rights in Palestine and around the world.
We will be looking to our new ministers to do us proud where their predecessors failed.
There is an important role for the Prime Minister as well – using the politics of kindness to speak out against the military detention without trial of Palestinian activists, including children, by the Israeli Defence Force.
It is well documented that Palestinian children incarcerated in this way are frequently denied access to a lawyer or even their parents.
Speaking out for Palestinian children is the least our Prime Minister can do as the new government reorients towards Palestine.
Meanwhile, as the world’s attention is focussed on the US election, Israel has been busily carrying out the ‘biggest demolition of Palestinian homes in years’: BBC Middle East Today
I wrote a few emails to Winston about various Palestinian issues and got some pretty hostile replies above his signature.
The new Ministers are an opportunity for a new approach, but Nanaia and Peeni will need persistent lobbying from solidarity networks. Also 5 Eyes pressure will be on them to keep supporting Israel.
Id be very surprised if anything changed. Most if not all of the parties in NZ follow the US’s lead. Have done for decades. We even took part directly in the Vietnam war whilst the US’ supposedly closest pal the UK declined.
We still have the Five Eyes, listening stations, roles in dubious interventions off shore and more.
Its going to take a fundamental shift in politics in NZ away from the US and neo liberalism. Does anyone see any sign that’s happening?
A fundamental shift yes, in the public not accepting the brutality of Zionism in Israel.
Ron Marks ex NZ Army obviously got well sucked in with the Isaeli “hospitality” but Ron has a history of accepting and demanding personal favours even as a mayor of Carterton.
Israel has plenty of money to sweeten cordial personal relationships with people who have no moral compass. Winston similarly, and he may have well laid the path for “sweeteners” being agreed to and accepted binding him to that international disgrace and genocide.
NZF did some good things for NZ but the graft that is obvious in their connection with the Zionist Israeli cabal and the NZ fishing big players just cannot be ignored.
If the National Govt can support a resolution against the Israeli illegal annexation and murder then what the hell is NZF doing fawning over the tyrants. It stinks.
James Shaw also fawned when he spoke against BDS. James is reputed to have apologised but such about turns do not appear on the net when I have searched for them.
The irrigation disaster in Canterbury also has Israeli connections.
BDS is not optional but an moral imperative.
Labour and National still follow the Neoliberal Ideology practiced in the USA. UK etc
It definitely feels like with these appointments there is some reason to be optimistic that Palestine will get some support. After all, Nanaia stood in opposition to the foreshore and seabed so understands the issues of land theft. This is a truly inspired appointment by Ardern and I believe that Mahuta will deliver a foreign policy that respects international law.
Don’t think Palestine is, or should be, a main focus for the NZ foreign affairs or defence departments.
NZ First tenure of our Foreign Affairs portfolio has been very damaging to NZ’s place in the world. Jacinda Ardern, Nanaia Mahuta, Peeni Henare must move to stand up for human rights & international laws & Conventions without delay. NZ troops fought in Palestine in WW1 on the side of Britain. With Australian troops they were also involved in crimes against humanity at Surafend. It is high time we paid our debt of restitution. Recognising Palestine as a state is a good first step.
Yes, an essential first step.
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