MEDIAWATCH: Phil Goff’s critical take down of Israel is a watershed moment

By
Martyn Bradbury
-
88
1378

This is a watershed moment in New Zealand…

Phil Goff: Israel doesn’t care how many innocent people it’s killing

Phil Goff is New Zealand’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs.

OPINION: “What we are doing in Gaza now is a war of devastation: indiscriminate, limitless, cruel and criminal killing of civilians. It’s the result of government policy -knowingly, evilly, maliciously, irresponsibly dictated.”

This statement was made not by a foreign or liberal critic of Israel but by the former Prime Minister and leader of Benjamin Netanyahu’s own Likud party, Ehud Olmet.

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Nightly, we witness live streamed evidence of the truth of his statement – lethargic and gaunt children dying of malnutrition, a bereaved doctor and mother of ten children, nine of them killed by an Israeli strike, 15 emergency ambulance workers gunned down by the IDF as they tried to help others injured by bombs, despite their identity being clear.

…wow.

Phil Goff saying what we are all thinking but are too frightened to say for fear of being accused anti-semitic resets the debate in New Zealand.

You can’t eclipse his righteous and rational criticism of Israels disproportionate actions by trying to smear Goff as an anti-semite!

He makes valid and very reasonable criticism of what Israel’s actions amount to, regardless of Israel’s right to defend itself, a right remember they are using over a people they have occupied brutally.

Phil is providing real moral leadership here, when someone of his mana calls out Israel’s brutality and speaks for basic decency when so many are too fearful to, that deserves respect.

I supported him speaking truth to power over that Trump question in Chatham House, because Trump is an extremism that must be denounced.

Gaza demands our attention regardless of how uncomfortable the issue makes us.

No citizen of this planet can support killing civilians with the woeful malice of the IDF.

Shooting through human shields to kill Hamas is not a solution nor justification. It’s murder.

‘Who started it’ doesn’t justify what has happened and is occurring right now.

We in the West are complicit to enabling a war crime if we refuse to speak out.

Phil has the courage to speak out.

We should be grateful there are still those New Zealanders bold enough to demand action against the worst angels of our nature.

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88 COMMENTS

  1. What? And no primary industry, only foreign earned income worth mentioning farmer bashing? Surely you could squeeze some farmer bashing in here somewhere. It shouldn’t be too hard to find a narrative. Farmers are smelly, dirty, uncouth, swearing, spitters after all. Not like you wonderful, classy, stylish, trend setting Aucklanders with your beautiful clothes and custom hair styles spending farmer money while gorging down farmer foods while thinking your shit doesn’t stink when, in reality your shits stinks more than any animal shit I’ve ever smelled.
    Dirty, lazy, useless, water polluting, vile, ugly farmers aye? Something like that? Shitting in the bath water or wearing gumboots in Remuera?

  3. Phil’s so-called “moral leadership” is just another case of the West caving to emotional manipulation and anti-Israel propaganda. He’s just another useful idiot parroting the fashionable narrative while ignoring the truth. Israel is fighting for its survival against a terrorist entity.

    He should be calling out Hamas for deliberately placing civilians in harm’s way. That’s not a war crime by Israel; it’s a war crime by Hamas. If you don’t want civilians hurt, tell Hamas to stop hiding behind them like cowards.

      • Actually Zelda makes a fair point. Hamas did do that on Oct 7, are still holding hostages and openly admit they want to do it over and over again and it is irrefutable they use their populationas human shields. That is undeniable. Fair to criticise Netanyahu too. But you lot hardly need encouragement on that front.

  4. Winston had to sack Phil because he is making him look as weak as piss .Winston is only interested in the baubles of office while Goff is a real statesman and diplomat .

    • So true. And especially so after Carney became leader and said much stronger things against Trump than the mild rhetorical question posed by Goff, who isn’t even a politician. That really showed Winston up.

  5. Now wait for the accusations that Phil is part of an international Muslim conspiracy, controlled by alien monsters , directed by Satan to destroy the Sacred Children of Israel (mainly located in New York and Chicago).
    Also that Israelis are the victims and just defending themselves with saturation bombing.

    • When you start off with ” who cares” them make a comment it cements you as a dickhead. The sooner you’re flattened the world can move on.

      • GW when replying would you indicate who to.. It isn’t always clear and is confusing when you are being forthright.

        • I understand your frustration Greywarbler but in this case it was clear it was too trumpet, it’s comment, therefore it is sick.

    • As a farmer I’d say… and of course you mean as soon as more starving wee kids on their own terf are killed by U$A trained israeli murderers in the guise of ‘soldiers’? https://www.aljazeera.com/
      Just to be clear, you know how it is.

    • Enable a monster to flatten one part of the world and you enable the monster to flatten the entire world. Once a monster tastes blood, they will not stop willfully. Give an inch, take a mile – this is the true scale of this problem. Who cares indeed….

        • No you can’t. Israel is funded and enabled by the entire West. Hamas is/was funded primarily by, ironically enough, Israel and Qatar. One is using their support to take over or control, not only Gaza/Palestine, but the entire Middle East – the other used their funding to push back against this well-funded/supported, harsh reality.

          The two are not the same in any way, shape or form, but one has the ability to look further than, not only Gaza/Palestine, and not only the Middle East, but to see that the entire world is potentially at their mercy. This is what we in the West are enabling…..don’t be surprised if some religious verse crops up in the not to distant future that grants Israel the divine right…to…the entire world!

          • You’ve confused tiny Israel and an even tinier proportion of the world’s population with a large number of countries (some very rich,) joined in an organisation (OIC) with a doctrinal arm (The Muslim Brotherhood) and comprising a huge, and growing, number of the world’s population AO. You haven’t read the latest report from the French intelligence have you?

          • The world only has one superpower, and this power controls the entire West. Together, they enable Israel. The only question thereafter is – how far will we enable Israel to go – remembering the basic human condition…enable a person to strike once, without consequence, then we enable that person to strike endlessly, thereafter. This is where we are at, this is the simple reality of this tragedy. There is no counter power to this as evidenced by the fact that nothing, bar nothing has hindered this calamity!

      • You are assuming that Trumpets anger at the world isn’t related to impotence. And a lack of anything to “blow”.

        • Hamas, Iran, Hezbollah and Houthis are hardly paragons of virtue. Just look at the appalling treatment and murder of homosexuals. Easy for folk to sit comfortably in NZ and indulge whatever prejudices they have. But this is far from simple.

          • Often said, never proven. Perhaps you can be thee very first soul, that can verify this otherwise specious claim. Still, appalling treatment v genocide, now there’s an appalling comparison.

      • To make your reply fit Wheel, try to remember to state the pseudonym please.
        I’m assuming you are replying to that pettish trumpet, about 10 comments away.
        It would be good if we could have a joined up discourse here as we try to understand a disjointed world, fragmented even!

  8. ” We should be grateful there are still those New Zealanders bold enough to demand action against the worst angels of our nature ”

    Well one is better than none !

    And I say that while acknowledging John Minto , TDB and its contributors.

    Its shameful that only an ex minister is prepared to call this out.

    This current government is included in all those who stood and watched the Palestinian people be slaughtered and starved in what’s left of their country and took no action and did nothing.

      • OMG, some nutter set innocent people on fire based on their religion. What’s that you say? Jewish. It must be Antisemitism and a blood libel hell I would even go so far to say from the river to the sea is the new heil Hitler. Standing up for Gaza and the innocent homeless being bombed in their tents in the middle of the night sleeping in fear and starvation, Antisemitism. Gotcha. No surprise people discusted by Israel’s actions push back. But hey Antisemitism.

        • Forgive me for not sharing your flippant sense of humour about innocent humans being set on fire (including a holocaust survivor in her mid 80s). Your “compassion” is highly selective and not authentic. Hatred masquerading as humanitarianism. Seems to be a disease.

          • My point Sammy is that I don’t get the whataboutism of some lone nut job being compared to Israeli government sanctioned slaughter

  10. Although he’s certainly right on this and in regard to Trump, Goff had no scruples when he willfully denied Peter Ellis justice, no scruples about twisting the findings of the Eichelbaum Inquiry. I still regard him with utter contempt for that.

    • Don’t think globally, think locally now in this case Richard Christie, ie zoom right in on the matter in hand – Goff and condemning the nation of Israel’s more-than-brutal behaviour, Just prioritise what you are doing eh. Concentrate, you don’t have to weigh and prioritise every past happening for correctness according to yourself. If one does that then you have to balance the elimination of Jews as civilians en masse to the similar elimination of Palestinians. How can one even consider that in all good faith. It isn’t possible, it isn’t right. And Peter Ellis is a case on his own and his treatment an example of other faulty human thinking.

  11. There have been many instances of societies, through their leaders, actually declaring war upon those peoples who have behaved as Israel is now behaving..
    Is it the case that the colonial mindset that held NZ back for so long, has now arisen again, just at the time when we need to be “adults” and not self serving drones?
    We may be the youngest human society on Earth, but do we really need to remind everbody so often?

  12. What a disgrace to the honour of the human spirit are these comments from Ennius, Trumpet and Trevor. The mean little minds and maliicious, bring shame to the post. It is so good that someone with standing has spoken out. We needed that and Phil Goff has done it for us who regard ourselves as people with a conscience and try to have a concern for others.

  13. Israel can only do what it is doing with the full support of the USA…and its chief lackey, the UK. And no country in the world – including Russia and China – is willing to challenge the USA/UK over their actions. Calling out Israel only, is only scratching the surface of this problem. Israel is a reflection of the USA, the so-called leader of the free world. Will we ever wake up to the core problem here or will we allow/ignore more US-led shite to foment throughout the world!

  14. What a disgrace to the honour of the human spirit are these comments from Ennius, Trumpet and Trevor.  The mean little minds and maliicious,  bring shame to the post.  It is so good that someone with standing has spoken out.  We needed that and Phil Goff has done it for us who regard ourselves as people with a conscience and try to have a concern for others.
    I sent this at 6.40pm and I stand by it as a reasoned and fair thought.   Those who choose to run down Goff and make little of the matter need calling out.   So please put this up or you are shutting out fair comment.

      • Thanks Geoff Lye. Could Kiwis carry a torch for humans respecting each other, like the Olympic one? Standing firm for that, but not soft as marshamallows or just going with the flow as easiest. How far would our Kiwi torch get to the world? Would it even survive leaving our shores?

  15. The sooner the genocidal Zionists are kicked out of Palestine and charged with war crimes the better Palestine and the whole Arab world can get rid of their own dictatorships and create societies in which all are free and equal regardless of race, gender and nationality. For a socialist West Asia!

  16. Anyone who knows anything about the real history of Palestine, from the archeological data and not the fabricated myth of the bible, up till the present day, knows there is absolutely zero justification or rational for the genocide being perpetrated by the IDF in Gaza. Among Israeli citizens, at least 55/60% are just as horrified as the rest of us. Let’s never forget these heroes who suffer under the rule of a nazi like regime, and who’s protests and demonstrations get no publicity, are Israelis and Jews, including some of the last Holocaust survivors.
    That said, the cycle of good and evil in politics always turns. It generally rebounds with a vengeance on wrongdoers. The tragic history of the recent events in Gaza is already written, as will be the reciprocity.

    • Some of us are horrified by the brutal pogroms inflected on Jews by both west and east over hundreds of centuries Richard. The latest being the Oct 7 jihad attacks. And we understand it is part of the same jihad to regain once-Islamic land which saw India and Pakistan go to war recently and why jihad can only be countered with brute force.

      • Once again Ann what possibly could have contributed to the Oct 7 attacks? All of the rehashing of the “pogroms” is totally irrelevant in justifying starving people to death. The same people the Israelis tell to flee to one area for safety and then bomb it anyway.

        • You don’t think centuries of Jew hatred produced an imprint which led to Oct 7? Then you might also like to explore the link between polygny and violence.

          • 109 pogoms during Jewish history are you implying it was because they were simply Jewish? The world’s first LGBT centre was in Nazi Germany, 90% of pornography was Jewish produced. The simple truth is there is a common thread with the programs during history, heck when they were expelled from Spain Spain entered its golden era. That’s not Antisemitism but historical truth. Look what they have done to Israel, Jews have never been able to assimilate.

    • My understanding is that the archeological data backs up the Bible and the scriptures totally condemn what Israel via the IDF is doing while also making it completely clear that they have forfeited any claim to that land. Unfortunately sinful people with selfish desires who can only understand a few words at a time have concluded the opposite but you can be sure that their destruction is certain. I can’t give you a day or hour but I know that righteousness wins because we have a righteous judge in control.

  17. Occupied people resisting their occupiers is only a ‘jihad’ to dishonest zionist supporters ,,,,, and Anne E has a long and proven record of being childishly dishonest.

    Israel and the land theft required to form it was founded on terrorism, violence and British connivance .

    Albert Einstein predicted the demise of the fledgling state when he was asked to help raise funds for its terrorist cells.

    “Ten years before the state declared its “independence” in 1948 on land stolen from the people of Palestine, Albert Einstein described the proposed creation of Israel as something which conflicted with “the essential nature of Judaism.” Having fled Hitler’s Germany and eventually becoming a US citizen, Einstein needed no lessons in what fascism looked like.” ,,,,,, “in 1948, he and a number of Jewish academics sent a letter to the New York Times to protest against a visit to America by Menachem Begin. In the well-documented letter, they denounced Begin’s Herut (Freedom) party, likening it to “a political party closely akin in its organisation, methods, political philosophy and social appeal to the Nazi and Fascist parties.”

    Herut was a right-wing nationalist party which went on to become the Likud led by Benjamin Netanyahu. As the leader of the Zionist Irgun terrorist group, a breakaway from the larger Jewish paramilitary organisation, the Haganah, Begin was wanted for terrorist activities against the British Mandate authorities. Even when he became prime minister of Israel (1977-1983) he never dared to visit Britain, where he was still on the most wanted list.”

    Israel is without doubt committing the ultimate crime,,, Genocide. The murderous intent behind this mass murder crime is as clear as day from the mouths of Israeli leaders…

    … ie- “The Israeli government stated exactly what it intended to do. Netanyahu showcased his religious fundamentalism with pride, comparing Palestinians to the Amalekites, whose injuries to the ancient tribe of Israel “our holy Bible tells us never to forget.” Yoav Gallant, the former defense minister, declared, “There will be no water, no food, no electricity or fuel. Everything will be closed. We are fighting against human animals, and we will act accordingly.” The former Israeli Ambassador to the UN confessed he is “very puzzled by the constant concern which the world is showing for the Palestinian people and these awful inhuman animals.”,,,,

    ,,,, “former Knesset member Moshe Feiglin was televised declaring the enemy is not Hamas but all Gazans: “Every child in Gaza is the enemy—every child to whom you are giving milk will grow up to rape your daughter and slaughter your children. Not a single child should remain. This is about justice.”

    Only last week Netanyahu stated, “This war is against good and evil.” “We are fighting human animals, monsters.” Yes, 600 days after Israel slaughtered entire families and burned children alive. Who, we may ask, are the human animals?”
    ************************************************************************
    Here’s’ an example of Ann E’s ‘brute force’ in action https://www.dropsitenews.com/p/massacre-al-najjar-family-gaza-genocide

    Here’s the (soon to be ) “once Islamic land” that Anne E calls for ‘brute force’ against the Palestinian who resist their dispossession– ‘‘If I Don’t Steal [Your Home] Someone Else Will’ Israeli Settler Justifies Forcible Takeover’ https://youtu.be/KNqozQ8uaV8

    Ann E’s call for brute force is a call for more of this,,,, https://ragspassage.substack.com/p/aseel-two-phone-calls

    Shes a very sick and dishonest person ,,,,,, nathan should marry her 😉

    • Pretty brutal response from India to the latest jihad attack against Hindus wasn’t it reason. Where’s your outrage?

      • Your silly response AnnE trying for equivalence falsely is the latest outrage I have seen from a supposedly reasoning person.
        And then Gordon-Vengenance can find time to attempt sarcasm over a simple desire to show concern and speaking despair of human savagery responding to previous shittiness so being passed on to further generations intact, well! Your response demands outrage in the least attempt at recovery of some nobility of spirit, hard to achieve but something to attempt.

    • Thanks B Awakesky that gives some light on my eternal ignorance about this. There is always something extra to learn with more sadness on behalf of Jewish people. But further to concern us all – we are all faulty and willing to follow someone who can unleash all the bad ideas that are kept under control usually.

    • In light of Greywarbler not responding to my question on the cause of the Pahalgam attack which took 2 nuclear-powered countries to war and was stopped only by Trump’s intervention (bullying some would say) perhaps you could hazard a guess.
      PS. Was ISIS destabilised in 2016-18 by brute force (both American and Russian) or not?

  19. Phil Goff is all the people the rich will allow for the people. Never forget, despicable!

    Born in Rogernomics, never got out of it.

    Pissed on climate-change and the neediest never addressed. Disgusting person.

  20. If that was a watershed moment then not much water was shed. If any. To quote The Late Night Breakfast: And then….DRAMA!

  22. I’ve known Goff from his moustache. I’m sure he’s a nice guy — ha ha ha. No, he’s a prick for the rich. Hell is waiting with open doors for him. For betraying the people of NZ, most of all, the neediest. The CV Labour crowd.

    The best long-term person in NZ politics — nah, I can’t think of anyone. The UK produced Corbyn out of the blue, and America produced Sanders. Nettling of the brows, only one from every country. And then Trotter went off to the Right.

    Quite strange, when we are rather right. I think that’s called power — it has a magnetic pull.

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