Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | News Video | Crime | Employers | Housing | Immigration | Legal | Local Govt. | Maori | Welfare | Unions | Youth | Search

 

Protest NZ - Israel trade summit Friday Nov 11

MEDIA RELEASE PALESTINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK 10.101.16

No business with Israel while the Occupation is business as usual - protest NZ- Israel trade summit Friday Nov 11

A meeting in Auckland tomorrow (Friday 11 November) designed to foster trade relationships with Israel has been described as ‘another Israeli public relations trick’ by supporters in Auckland of the Palestinian people.

Spark CEO Simon Moutter is heading a trade and innovation summit featuring Israeli businesses, after leading a group of New Zealand business leaders to Israel in June.

A spokesperson for the Palestine Solidarity Network, Janfrie Wakim says Israel is trying to foster links with countries such as New Zealand for political not economic reasons.

“The Israeli government knows people throughout the word are increasingly supporting the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement against institutional Israeli racism, and it’s desperately trying to pretend Israel is everyone’s friend by diverting attention away from its international crimes,” she says.

The Palestine Solidarity Network points to the recent film cooperation agreement between Israel and New Zealand as an example of what it calls a ‘calculated entanglement of New Zealand with Israel’s propaganda apparatus’.

Wakim also says the visit to New Zealand of the Israeli Batshiva Dance Company in 2011, is another example of what she calls “an attempt to avoid world condemnation of Israeli continuing occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, increasing racial discrimination in Israel and the continuing refusal to allow millions of expelled Palestinians to return to their homeland.”

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.

“Just a few weeks ago the Israeli navy intercepted a vessel with MP Marama Davidson on board in international waters off the coast of besieged Gaza. There wasn’t any friendly talk of innovation going on then. The real military and oppressive face of Israel was on display instead.”

Wakim also disputes the possibilities of much trade development with Israel as a result of the summit meeting.

“The Israeli embassy has managed to wheel out the welcome mat for all sorts of New Zealand industry notables at this trade summit, but the reality is Israel has never bought much of our main exports and is never likely to.

“Israel is a world leader in equipment and weapons used for military surveillance and the brutal control of civilian populations. We surely have no need for that nasty oppressive stuff here”.

“You also can see Israeli behavior here in New Zealand. It was the Israeli spy agency Mossad which was getting fake New Zealand passports in 2004. A warrant was issued in Auckland this time ten years ago for the arrest of the former Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon for alleged war crimes in Gaza, before he skipped the country.”

“New Zealand has international law responsibilities to do nothing to assist the Israeli occupation of Palestinian Territories. Hosting Israeli companies here, which are complicit in the Occupation is sending the wrong message of business as usual.”

“The attempts of the Israelis in diplomatic, business and cultural areas to curry favour in New Zealand are just like the supporters here of South Africa’s apartheid system thirty years ago. It was the same message – politics has nothing to do with business, sport of culture, even if it came from a society as racially oppressive as Israel or South Africa. It was only when people saw the contacts with apartheid South Africa for what they were, did the apartheid system collapse.”

Release ends

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.