Green MP Keith Locke is inviting Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff to speak out against Israel's assault on the Yasser Arafat's Palestinian Authority.

"Last month in New York Mr Goff promised Yasser Arafat that New Zealand would do what it could to help the Palestinian people," said Mr Locke.

Over the last day there has been a massive Israeli assault on the offices of Yasser Arafat's administration, killing innocent bystanders and destroying buildings, helicopters and even an airport runway.

"This will solve nothing except fuel the anger among Palestinians," said Mr Locke. "and gain even more volunteers to act as suicide bombers.

"Phil Goff needs to speak out now. He said at the Labour Party conference that we must be prepared to 'tackle the causes of terrorism' and get a 'fair deal for Palestinians.'

"Is he staying silent because the Bush administration, in its 'war against terrorism' has given a green light to Sharon's iron-fisted response to the suicide bombings?"

"Sharon's air strikes against Palestinian leaders are no more an answer to terrorism than George Bush's against the Taleban.

"New Zealand should be leading the way in promoting peaceful solutions, such as an Israeli withdrawal from the West Bank and Gaza, and the formation of a Palestinian state," said Mr Locke.

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