Peace Vigil - Tuesday April 9 5.30pm - Israeli Embassy, 111 The Terrace.

Organisers of the Vigil issued the following statement: "Present Israeli violence in the Occupied West Bank and Gaza Strip is only one step from the ultimate Zionist prescription for Palestine - wholesale expulsion of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians from their homeland.

"This will come, sooner rather than later.

"United States' 'pressure on General Sharon is simply a concern about oil prices and an attempt to get Arab support for a war on Iraq. Bush will inevitably revert back to his condemnation of Palestinian resistance and endorsement of Israeli atrocities. Then Israel will be ready for the next step.

"Israeli attacks on journalists mark an ominous sign of large scale dirty-work by Israeli occupying troops. Evidence is mounting, not just of destruction of property, arbitrary arrests, selective assassinations, vandalisation of holy sites, but random cold-blooded killings of prisoners in the street. Israeli soldiers have rounded up thousands of men between 14 and 60 for 'interrogation. These men are not being seen again.

"As horrific as this is, it is only a preparation for Transfer - the ethnic cleansing of Palestine of Palestinians. Transfer of the 'cancer within Israel', is openly advocated up to and including in the Israeli cabinet.

"Our own Prime Minister has said that 'This time, Israel has gone too far.." A high level of tolerance indeed. As far as our Foreign Minister was concerned this week the long standing United Nations endorsement of the right to return of the millions of Palestinians who are already refugees means nothing. Phil Goff has equated Israelis removing their illegal settlements with the Palestinians relinquishing their right to return, as a formula for peace. He remains silent on the Jewish 'right of return'.

"Our own governments, and those of most of the rest of the world, will only react to public pressure. Students for Justice in Palestine and the Wellington Palestine Group are building a campaign against the Israeli onslaught."

Israeli Embassy 111 the terace - 5:30 p.m Tuesday 9/4/2002 - WEAR BLACK

Scoop Business: Court Overturns Crafar Farms Sale Decision

The decision allowing sale of the Crafar dairy farms to Chinese investor Shanghai Pengxin has been set aside, with the High Court directing Ministers to reconsider the application.

Judge Forrest Miller found that the Overseas Investment Office's recommendation to allow the purchase to occur "materially overstated" the economic benefit of the transaction to the New Zealand economy. More>>