In a government response to PSNA, Foreign Minister Winston Peters has sidestepped the genocidal elephant in the room with his empty claim New Zealand does not export arms to Israel.
In our original letter to the Prime Minister (see below) we pointed to the recent United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for a halt to all arms sales to Israel.
We sought a specific assurance that arms sales to the US would also be suspended because we pointed out that Auckland-based company Rakon makes crystal oscillators for smart bombs which are assembled in the US and will inevitably find their way to the Israeli Defence Force and then to the killing fields of Gaza.
Winston Peters has sidestepped the issue.
It is clear export of Rakon products to the US will continue to be approved by the government despite the United Nations Human Rights Council resolution.
This is not acceptable.
New Zealanders have made plain they are appalled and revolted at Israel/US action in Gaza.
New Zealand arms exports to the US must be stopped. Israel/US values do not align with New Zealand values.
PSNA has put in an OIA to gain further information on this from the government.
PSNA original letter to Prime Minister Luxon:
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
8 April 2024
Christopher Luxon
Prime Minister
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Christopher.luxon@parliament.govt.nz
Kia ora Mr Luxon,
We are seeking an assurance from you that New Zealand military export orders to the US and Israel have been halted following Friday’s United Nations Human Rights Council resolution calling for a halt to all arms sales to Israel.
The United Nations Human Rights Council has adopted a resolution calling for Israel to be held accountable for possible war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Gaza Strip, and demanding a halt to all arms sales to the country.
Friday’s vote marked the first time that the UN’s top rights body has taken a position on the nearly six-month war, highlighting warnings of “genocide” in the conflict that has killed more than 33,000 people.
New Zealand has significant exports of military equipment to the US, in particular via Auckland firm Rakon which provides crystal oscillators to the US military which incorporates them into weapons which are provided to Israel. The Rakon website indicates clearly its products are used for “defence purposes”. Previously it has been widely reported Rakon products are purchased by US defence contractor Rockwell for incorporation into guided missiles and guided artillery shells.
All exports orders from Rakon to the US and/or Israel must be stopped immediately.
The wanton killing of over 33,000 Palestinians – mostly women and children – by the Israeli Defence Force has been widely described as a likely genocide by the International Court of Justice and human rights groups around the world.
We look forward to a swift and clear response from you today.
Ngā mihi.
Nā,
John Minto
National Chair
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
Not to mention Winston Peters has cut off New Zealand aid to UNWRA on unfounded allegations by Israel and has not reinstated it.
Commonwealth countries Canada and Australia have restored their aid t UNWRA finding the Israeli accusations unproven, yet Winston Peters continues to help Israel starve the people of Gaza
Yes hammer that point home. Identified as blatent white anting by Israel over UNWRA, a slander to starve Gaza. Complete bullshit which was widely acknowledged once allegations revealed for the obscene tactic it was. Peter’s doesn’t care tho, but why? I don’t understand the hold Israel holds over the Western world that they can act with such utter impunity to literally obliterate a whole population. Disgusting.
Peters is not side stepping the genocide elephant he is goading it on.
Winston Peters is doing a great job we all know that.The Labour Government holder of the position was an embarrassment hence her being hidden.
Absolutely ridiculous statement from who?
Awesome Mr Minto thanks for keeping us the public updated and informed holding this far-right racist climate denying govt to account much appreciated.
Free Palestine
Winston Peters is a * Machiavellian and **confederate plaything to the neo-liberalism that bedevils us still after 40 years.
* Someone Machiavellian is sneaky, cunning, and lacking a moral code. The word comes from the Italian philosopher Niccolò Machiavelli, who wrote the political treatise The Prince in the 1500s, that encourages “the end justifies the means” behavior, especially among politicians.
**Confederate.
” A confederate is anyone who supports you and works toward the same goal with you. When it is used in the context of government or politics, it means “united by a treaty,” like two countries that have joined forces against a third.”
Or, as in our case, a political force ( National Party and it’s hangers on.) with a select few hyper rich who boldly stole our wealth then gave it to the aforementioned now hyper rich 14 multi-billionaires, 3118 multi-millionaires each with a $50 million dollar net minimum then dropped the drawbridge to the rapacious corporate greed of four Australian banks wearing the skins of ASB, ANZ, BNZ and Westpac to steal $180.00 a second net 24/7/365 from the same AO/NZ property market they themselves inflated, with the help of our well lobbied politicians of course.
With his interview style seemingly set to first avoid answering the question, Peters, like his mendacious mentor Muldoon, repeatedly gets away with blatant diversion when asked the simplest question. Appearing to have long since forgotten that he is an elected representative of the people, his intent appears always to serve anything but that of someone entrusted with the job we have given him. But one day he’ll be gone.
Nicely said about the great pain in the arse.
He serves first the people who voted for him.He has no obligation to pathetic reporters or people who continually denigrate him.
I might add for what it’s worth I’ve never voted for him but do admire his ability to reduce issues to what they are.
Complication is the preserve of the left a thousand words when a few will do.
(Many examples on this site.)
As usual, Peters lies- like his bosses in ‘israel’. If you provide supplies for weapons produced by ‘israel’s golem, the US, you provide supplies for weapons that will be used in ‘israeli’ crimes- whether directly or by the US golem on their behalf.
In your twisted world, Mo, Jews defending themselves is a crime. The Nazis believed this, too.
We human beings actually aren’t big fans of your habits of ‘defending’ yourselves by poisoning wells with typhus, as you did in your Operation Cast Thy Bread, nor your habits of raping and killing children.
The Nazis believed that they were defending themselves from Jewish terrorists when they committed the Holocaust.
“His bosses in Israel.”
That’s pathetically stupid.
Followed by even more silliness from the Union boss.
Restricting comments again in favor of your echo chambers, Minto. You’re so pathetically afraid of the truth.
Is he Gaby? I’m surprised at that. I have found it may sometimes take a few days for my comments to be published but they do appear. Perhaps, just to be sure, I should check with my awake adversary who has all my comments bookmarked.
Winston Peters along with everyone in the Coalition Government don’t report to John Minto.
Speaking of genocide here’s Hamas spokesman, Ghazi Hamad, telling the truth October 7:
“It is just the first time, and there will be a second, a third, a fourth….No one should blame us for the things we do, on October 7, October 10, October million, everything we do is justified.”
Well, duh. The Palestinian people are not going to allow themselves to be murdered by the alien invaders.
I lived in Africa for several years. Never met a genocidal elephant. LOL.
Are you a Zionist Gaby?
Several times I have asked if you are Zionist. You have avoided answering the question. Why?
<b<"…Never met a genocidal elephant. LOL." gaby
It’s metaphor Gaby.
Metaphor:
https://www.grammarly.com/blog/metaphor/#
…A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn’t literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.
A metaphor states that one thing is another thing
It equates those two things not because they actually are the same, but for the sake of comparison or symbolism
If you take a metaphor literally, it will probably sound very strange (are there actually any sheep, black or otherwise, in your family?)…
Elephant in the room
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The expression “the elephant in the room” (or “the elephant in the living room”)[2][3] is a metaphorical idiom in English for an important or enormous topic, question, or controversial issue that is obvious or that everyone knows about but no one mentions or wants to discuss because it makes at least some of them uncomfortable and is personally, socially, or politically embarrassing, controversial, inflammatory, or dangerous. The metaphorical elephant represents an obvious problem or difficult situation that people do not want to talk about.[1][4][5]
Is there something you don’t want to talk about Gaby?
For instance; Why can’t you tell us whether you are a Zionist, or not a Zionist?
It’s a simple question.
Are you a Zionist Gaby?
Why won’t you tell us?
Hamas agrees to temporary ceasefire and hostage deal. Israel calls Hamas ceasefire agreement a Hamas ruse and deception and to the horror of the world launches major assault on Rafah.
One official told Reuters that the announcement was a clear ruse by the terror group to create backlash against Israel for refusing a deal, and officials told KANN TV that the announcement of a cease-fire agreement was a “Hamas deception.”
https://nypost.com/2024/05/06/us-news/hamas-says-it-has-accepted-cease-fire-proposal-from-egypt-and-qatar/
Will the UN Security Council meet again to discuss ordering a ‘Binding’ ceasefire order?
Will the US support a unanimous binding resolution on Israel for a ceasefire?
Will the US abstain and call it non-binding?
With Trump on 49% in the polls, Genocide Joe on 43% refuses to stop supporting Israel. The future of the world hangs in the balance,
A trump presidency signals war with China in the Pacific, and total extermination of Palestinians in the Middle East.
Trump is a man of peace ,his time as President is proof,but Mr.O’Dea knows better.
Winston Peters self centred & disgraceful conduct regarding his support of the Apartheid Zionist State is reprehensible, he parrots the same lie that the Americans parrot about seeking the Two State solution which they have no intention of bringing about, the latest refusal by the Americans at the UN Security council to ratify recognition of Palestine as a State confirms that the Two State solution is a Total ruse, a conjob that they trot out to everyone but the reality is they don’t support this two State solution! So the Vile Winston Peters participates in this Western fraud while supporting these genocidal Zionists but hopefully at 78 yrs of age, this old fucker is nearer the end of his life than the beginning, this should be the last Time this geriatric scumbag is in Govt but the damage he’s already doing to NZ’s Global reputation is unimaginable, this old fool is putting a Nuclear target on our Heads & jeopardising our future Trade with our biggest Trading partner China, Peters has made NZ a lackey of Western Hegemony & the dying US Empire & we will pay the price for his idiocy & appeasement to the West?