The government decision to take on observer status at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance is a step backwards in the fight against anti-semitism and the struggle for Palestinian human rights.
The IHRA is a partisan, political organisation working hard to deflect criticism of Israel’s racist policies towards Palestinians with false smears of anti-semitism.
For example the IHRA has adopted its own definition of anti-semitism which claims calling Israel an apartheid state (as every major international human rights group such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch does) or calling for sanctions against Israel is anti-semitic.
The New Zealand Jewish Council and the Holocaust Centre of New Zealand have already adopted this bogus IHRA definition which they used in a so-called “survey of anti-semitism” earlier this year to make the absurd claims that describing Israel as an apartheid state or calling for sanctions against Israel were anti-semitic.
Palestinian civil society organisations called for BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) in 2005 to build international pressure to require Israel to abide by international law and United Nations resolutions. BDS was an important part of the fight against apartheid in South Africa and is also an important strategy in the fight against apartheid in Israel.
The three aims of BDS are to end Israel’s military occupation, end its apartheid policies towards Palestinians and allow Palestinian refugees to return to the land and homes from which they were ethnically cleansed by Israel in 1948.
This legitimate and successful BDS strategy is fiercely opposed by Israel which is weaponizing the Holocaust against Palestinian demands for human rights.
Needless to say, Palestinians had no role in the Holocaust whose cause was European anti-semitism.
By joining the IHRA Aotearoa New Zealand is undermining the fight against anti-semitism and racism of all kinds.
The government has caved in to relentless bullying and threats of false smears of anti-semitism from the pro-Israel lobby.
Joining the IHRA is a weak, cowardly decision.
Aotearoa New Zealand should adopt the Jerusalem Declaration on Anti-Semitism and insist on Holocaust education in every school in the country as part of a comprehensive anti-racism education programme.
Very true John.
At Israeli celebrations like the Jerusalem ‘Flag March’, they regularly celebrate their previous victories, like the Duma arson attack, where they successfully burnt three native Palestinians, including a toddler, to death.
I can think of a number of descriptions I could give to this common Israeli feeling, none of them nice. But if I called the Israelis, who love to celebrate burning a toddler to death, ‘Nazis’, that would make me an ‘anti-semite’, according to this zionist lobby group that our cowardly government has just joined.
Actually, my impression is that the most informed, articulate, committed opponents of Zionism are Jews..including Israeli human rights NGO B’tselem and American human rights group NGO Jewish Voice for Peace.
My impression is that MPs are afraid of getting the ‘Jeremy Corbyn’ treatment. In effect, our government’s so-called ‘foreign policy’ is to look the other way. They even remain silent about the assassination of journalist Shireen abu Akleh. There is no bottom line. Shame!!!
The Jewish groups might not call it opposition to Zionism.
Our government is currently in multilateral solidarity mode with UK/EU/NATO/US/OZ on the collective security of nations (Eurasia and Eastasia), so there is both a commonality and a nuance in being an associate on IHRA while seeking co-operation on social media regulation of extremist content – Christchurch Call to Action Summit. Our position on the death of the journalist is to seek an independent and transparent investigation, as per the UN.
Yes, you have correctly recognized that Ardern is a puppet of evil foreign powers.
Discriminatory policies based on race have been called apartheid – but can also apply based on ethnicity and religion. Such as having a head of state office reserved for someone of a certain religion or church or nationality (our imperial colonial inheritance).
Exempted has been affirmative action (sex or race or indigenous rights/ethnic peoples homeland).
There is a difference between Israel being an apartheid state and a state practicising apartheid (as it does in annexed East Jerusalem and the occupied territories). The difference increased with the presence of an Arab party in the outgoing Israel government coalition (and the growing diversity of those in the IDF – for good non Jewish and for bad/settlers).
And the Germans killed the Jews
And the Jews killed the Arabs
And the Arabs killed the hostages
and that is the news
Is it any wonder the Monkey’s confused.
Roger Waters: Perfect sense.
The Palestinian refugee crisis was created when 5 Arab armies invaded Israeli in 1948 in an attempt to extinguish the Jewish State. Israel gained control of the West Back in a defensive war against 3 Arab nations that sought to drive the Jews into the sea. It owes no apologies to anyone for its victories in those wars. It is surrounded by enemies that still say, very clearly, that they wish to “annihilate“ the Jewish state. There is a raging civil war to Israel’s north in Syria that has led to 500,000 deaths and 4 million refugees, but this paper barely mentions it. Why? Because your real goal is to end the Jewish state, not to protect Muslim lives.
Hey, weird, you fail to mention that ‘israel’ is providing weapons and hospital care to the terrorists trying to destroy Syria.
Why is that, zionist?
I have heard of the hospital treatment given to those who arrive in Israel/Golan Heights from Syria or the occupied “Palestinian” territories, but who (and with what) have Israel armed in Syria?
They admitted in 2019 to supplying weapons to Al Nusra (Al-Qaeda in Syria) and other ‘moderate rebel’ groups, as well as hospital care to send them back into battle against the Syrian people.
Apparently is was a southern Syrian border policy. 2013-2016 food and medical and 2016-2018 expanded to weapons supply. It was replaced by a deal with Russia whereby Iranian forces were kept from the area. A few of the local commanders were given refuge in Israel, but most felt abandoned when the Syrian government forces finally prevailed.
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