Appalling NZ mainstream media reporting on Palestine continues – cowardly silence from the Christopher Luxon government continues – and protest action across the country continues

As New Zealanders continue to protest Israel’s attacks on Gaza and the escalation in Israeli attacks in the illegally-occupied West Bank, our mainstream media and government continue their appalling racist behaviour on behalf of the Israeli regime.

In centres across the length and breadth of Aotearoa, New Zealanders will be out again this weekend to call for BDS (Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions) against apartheid Israel.

The sheer awfulness of mainstream media reporting is illustrated in the TVNZ news item aired last night about which PSNA has made this complaint.

Complaint re TVNZ News item, 6pm, 29 August 2024

In the introduction to the news item on Israel’s war on Palestine the presenter talked about an Israeli military operation in the “West Bank”. The item went on to show an overseas report with video pictures of Israeli troops in action and video of an Israeli government spokesperson who talked about the need to counter armed terrorist groups who were funded and armed by Iran which he alleged wanted to open an eastern front against Israel. Following later were pictures of a Red Crescent worker saying the bombing reminded him of what is happening in Gaza.

Our complaint relates to: 

1. The seriously misleading use of the term “West Bank”. Under international law and in the view of successive New Zealand governments it should be described as the “occupied West Bank” (ie occupied by Israel) and since last month’s International Court of Justice ruling it should be described as the “illegally-occupied West Bank”.
2. The report focused on Israeli narratives, Israeli reasoning, Israeli justifications, Israeli propaganda with nothing from the Palestinian side to put this issue in perspective. If they were allowed to do so on TVNZ news the Palestinian side would say something like:

• the armed Palestinian resistance groups who were the targets of the Israeli incursion are fighting against the illegal occupation of their land by Israel.

• They are fighting ethnic cleansing, violence, murder and mayhem conducted by Israeli settlers with the backing of the Israeli army.

• They are fighting for freedom and self-determination. 

• Under international law they have the right to take up arms to fight for their freedom. On the other side the Israeli army has no right to wage war against a people living under its military occupation.

The TVNZ news item presented an inversion of the truth.  The victims are blamed for resisting an oppressive, racist, apartheid regime (all these adjectives come from last month’s ICJ ruling) In this way the TVNZ report was inaccurate, unbalanced and unfair.

We are familiar with the argument than no single news story can cover all aspects of Israel’s occupation of Palestine but that over time people get a balanced view from a range of news reports. We reject this argument outright. The news item presented tonight was typical of the vast majority of TVNZ reports from Israel’s war on Gaza over the past year.

The details of the protests around the country this weekend are on the PSNA Facebook events page here. Basic details are below.

John Minto

National Chair

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa

North Island
Opononi – Rally to Stop the war on Children
Sunday 1 September
1:30 pm
Outside the Four Square, Opononi

Kerikeri – Rally
First Saturday of the month

Whangarei – Rally
Saturday 31 August
No Rally this weekend

Auckland – British Consulate
Friday 30 August
12:00 Noon
151 Queen Street, Auckland CBD

Waiheke – Market Stall – hosted by Stand With Palestine Waiheke!
Every Saturday
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ostend Market, Waiheke Island

Auckland – Banners around Tamaki Makaurau
Saturday 31 August
10:00 am
Check out the PSNA Facebook events page for details
Text Steve for details (dependent on wind speeds)

Auckland – No Combined Community group Rally this Sunday
Sunday 1 September
No combined community group Rally this Sunday

Auckland – أسرى Asra: Stories of Palestinian Prisoners
5 days – Tuesday 3 – Saturday 7 September
8:00 pm
Basement Theatre, Lower Greys Avenue, Auckland City
Book online or call 0508 iTICKET (0508 484 253)

Thames – Vigil to Stop the war on Children
(by The Basket – Social and Environmental Justice – Hauraki)
First Saturday of the month

Tauranga – Nobela Flag wave
Sunday 1 September
11:00 am – 12:00 noon
New world Gate pa – 948 Camron Rd, Tauranga

Hamilton – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 31 August
1:00 pm
Civic Square, Hamilton

Raglan – Movie – Where Olive Trees Weep ($10 Donation)
Wednesday 28 August
7:00 pm
Raglan Old School Arts Center, Raglan

Cambridge – Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
11:00 am
Cambridge Town Hall

Gisborne – Farmers Market – Vigil to Stop the war on Children
Every Saturday
9:30 – 11:30 am
Gisborne Farmers Market

Rotorua – Rally for Palestine
Every Thursday
4:00 pm
Rotorua Lakes Council, Haupapa Street (Sir Howard Morrison Corner)

Napier – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 31 August
11:30 am
Marine Parade Soundshell Roundabout

Hastings – Rally for Palestine
Sunday 1 September
1:00 pm
Hastings Town Clock – Hastings CBD

Palmerston North – Rally for Palestine
Sunday 1 September
2:00 pm
The Square, Palmerston North

New Plymouth – Flags on the Bridge
Friday 30 August
4:30 pm
Paynters Ave Bridge

New Plymouth – March for Palestine
Saturday 31 August
1:00 pm
The Landing, 1 Ariki Street, New Plymouth

Whanganui – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 31 August
11:00 am
Riverside Market, Whanganui

Carterton – Gathering for Gaza
Every Tuesday
12:00 midday
Memorial Square.

Martinborough – Vigil for Palestine
Every Wednesday
11:00 am
The square at the top of Kitchener St, Martinborough

Masterton – Gathering for Gaza
Every Sunday
9:30 am
Town Hall Lawn

Featherston – Gathering for Gaza
Every Saturday
11:00 am
The Squircle (opposite the op shop).

Wellington – Vigil for Palestine (by Aotearoa Healthcare Workers for Palestine)
Every Friday
6:00 pm
In front of Wellington Hospital
49 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington

Wellington – Flags on the Bridge
(hosted by the Falastin Tea Collective)
Every Friday
7:15 – 8:15 am
Hill Street bridge Overbridge, Wellington

Wellington – Rally for Palestine
(hosted by Collective groups of Wellington)
Saturday 31 August
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Cuba Mall (just up from the Bucket Fountain, Wellington

South Island
Nelson – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 31 August
10:30 am
1903 Square, Upper Trafalgar Street, Nelson

Nelson – Visit to the ACT Party meeting
Tuesday 3rd September
6.30pm
Outside the Trafalgar Centre – Paru Paru Road, Nelson

Blenheim – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 31 August
11:00 am
Blenheim Railway Station

Christchurch – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 31 August
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch

Timaru
No Rally this weekend

Dunedin
Next planned Rally is Saturday September 14

Queenstown
No Rally this weekend

Invercargill – Rally for Palestine
Sunday 1 September
1:00 pm
Wachner place Invercargill