Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa has written to the Minister of Foreign Affairs this afternoon urging Nanaia Mahuta to speak out and condemn outright Israel’s declaration of six Palestinian Human Rights organisations as “terrorist organisations”.
“This is another outrageous abuse of human rights, for which the Israeli regime has become synonymous”, says PSNA National Chair John Minto.
“Our government must speak up and hold Israel to account for this savage attack on legitimate human rights organisations”
The groups identified as “terrorist” by the Israeli government are:
- Addameer, which supports Palestinian political prisoners
- Al-Haq, a human rights organisation that works with the United Nations.
- Union of Agricultural Work Committees
- Bisan Centre for Research and Development
- Union of Palestinian Women’s Committees
- Defense for Children International – Palestine.
“One way or another PSNA supports the work of all these groups. They have been targeted because they are effective in bring Israel’s daily human rights abuses to international attention – and demanding accountability for Israel at the International Criminal Court”
“New Zealand must stand with the indigenous people of Palestine who suffer under a racist, apartheid regime reinforced with unbridled brutality from the Israeli Defence Force”
“This attack is straight out of apartheid South Africa’s playbook which used “suppression of terrorism” and “suppression of communism” laws to outlaw the liberation movements of South Africa, the ANC and PAC (Nelson Mandela was a leader of the ANC)
“This attack on human rights groups is a signature move of totalitarian states around the world”
Under Nanaia Mahuta Aotearoa New Zealand has been all but silent in the face of Israel’s racism and apartheid. This complicity by silence must end now.
Didn’t Israel threaten war past time we tried this? Don’t fuck around.
Compliance with Israel’s Zionism is the price the USA pays willingly to have nukes in the Middle East.
The NZ Govt is working overtime on major NZ issues.
Not quite: https://tr.usembassy.gov/statement-on-four-years-of-osman-kavalas-detention/
That frankly is not a good enough reason. Nanaia should call it out for what she is, especially as she is an indigenous woman whose culture has been trampled on.
But no mustn’t upset the bullies of the world the USA who think they own the world.
It is absurd for the NZ government to be part of the anti Turkish move, which is blatantly political, emphasizing the belief of the US and Britain that they are International Law and can themselves steal and kill with impunity. The US does not even recognise International law with respect to its own citizens. This anti Turkish move and our governments pandering to the Israeli Nazis make me deeply ashamed to be a New Zealander. We will pay for every action our government promotes against the true and honest people of Palestine. The Israelis are not us. Their is more Jewish blood in my little finger than in the whole of Israel. This is not Antisemitism. To oppose Israel is to oppose evil. Those who support evil have no place in NZ. They are not us.
Yesterday, i wrote the following email letter to Minister Mahuta, to several other MPs, and to a few others;
“THIS TIME THEY’VE GONE TOO FAR!!!
Dear good people,
I am forwarding a grim warning from Jewish Voice for Peace that Israel plans to shut down Palestinian human rights groups by labelling them “terrorist”.
This is ‘beyond the pale’ . It is time for the NZ public and government to say NO!!!
I haven’t met Raja Shehadeh, founder of the human rights organisation Al-Haq, but I feel like I know him, as I’ve read 3 of his books. A good principled man!
Martin and I have visited the Ramallah HQ of Defence of Children International Palestine. We are very familiar wth the work they do to expose the oppression, administrative detection, beating, even killing, of Palestinian children. We have tried to tell others about the report prepared by DCIP and AFSC (American Quakers) NO WAY TO TREAT A CHILD.
There is so much fear of being seen to criticise any action of the Israeli regime.
The time has come to overcome that fear! ”
Two problems:
1) Even if the NZ went as far as verbally condemning this action, the Israeli regime couldn’t care less. Much stronger action is needed.
2) But politicians need to be pushed by the public.
ps Note that the warning of attacks on human rights activists comes from Jewish Voice for Peace
There was good reason for optimism when Nanaia Mahuta became the Minister of Foreign Affairs and to give her her due, it seemed she was initially very nuanced in balancing her dialogue regarding China. Since then however, it is obvious that the US has pulled on The PM’s leash which has resulted in an obvious sudden loss of independent diplomacy. One of the consequences today is that NZ has had its Ambassador to Turkey designated as persona no grata for joining a choir of undiplomatically calling for the release of a Turkish dissident who is currently awaiting trial.
Given the current lack of diplomatic independence and an eye on the legitimate interests of NZ, it is no surprise that Israel gets a never ending free pass. Sadly, no amount of urging by NZers of conscience will elicit even a comment of concern.
It now remains to be seen if our current toothless Golan Heights peacekeeping contribution extends to defending Israel when its endless stirring of the ME pot results in declarations of war.
Post comment – https://news.antiwar.com/2021/10/21/israel-resumes-practicing-attacks-on-iran/
I think we should do a complete turn-around and acknowledge that Israelis are too fearful of everything to stand on their own feet and make decisions relating to the Palestinians welfare and the land that has been designated for Palestine along with the airspace and ground water and amenities should be administered by the United Nations.
All the Israelis should be adopted as penpals by the rest of the world so they dsn’t feel so lost and vulnerable. It appears that they cannot rise above the horrible behaviour shown to them as a people. And how could one push that to the side of the mind. A friendly letter arriving every two weeks would raise their spirits.
And a properly enforced system of compensation after each damaging missile or shooting by either side, which has been suggested already, would be a good idea. We have looked the other way too long. The Palestinians are bearing the brunt. The young Jewish people need another paradigm.
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