Will Christchurch become first New Zealand city to sanction Israel?

Christchurch City Council is due to vote on a resolution to amend its procurement policy to exclude companies building and maintaining illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories.

The resolution was proposed by PSNA in a presentation to council in June and a positive recommendation is finally coming to council tomorrow.

The details of the agenda item are on Pages 13 to 23 here: Agenda of Finance and Performance Committee – Wednesday, 23 October 2024

“We are delighted the council is to consider this motion tomorrow” says PSNA National Chair John Minto. “If it passes Christchurch will be the first city in New Zealand to end Israeli impunity for war crimes” (Building settlements on occupied land belonging to others is a war crime under international law)

The motion would bring council policy in line with UN Security Council resolution 2334 which was co-sponsored by a previous National government in 2016. It will also mean Christchurch will be the first city council in the country to adopt the policy (Environment Canterbury voted in this policy earlier this year).

“Today Israel is running riot across the Middle East because it has never been held to account for 76 years of flagrant breaches of international law,” says Minto.

“The motion is a small but significant step in sanctioning Israel. Many more steps must follow”.

PSNA National Chair John Minto and University of Canterbury lecturer Josephine Varghese will be speaking to councillors in support of the motion at around 9.40am backed up with supporters in the public gallery.

We hope the media will report this important development in holding Israel to account.

John Minto

National Chair

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa