PSNA Newsletter No 159 - October 23 2024
23 Whiringa-ā-nuku 2024
23 October 2024
Newsletter No 159
STOP PRESS:
This morning Christchurch City became the first New Zealand city to sanction Israel
The Ōtautahi team after the final vote – Free Palestine!
This morning (Wednesday 23 October) Christchurch City became the first city in New Zealand to sanction Israel after passing a resolution to amend its procurement policy to exclude companies building and maintaining illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
“We are delighted the council has taken a stand against Israel’s ongoing theft of Palestinian land”, says PSNA National Chair John Minto.
“It has been the failure of western governments to hold Israel to account which means Israel has a 76-year history of oppression and brutal abuse of Palestinians and stealing their land.”
“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 passed by Christchurch City today (with just a couple of councillors opposed and 4 abstaining) helps to end Israeli impunity for war crimes” (Building settlements on occupied land belonging to others is a war crime under international law)
“The motion is a small but significant step in sanctioning Israel. Many more steps must follow”.
“We are particularly pleased the council rejected the red herrings and obfuscations of New Zealand Jewish Council spokesperson Ben Kepes who urged councillors to reject the motion”
“Mr Kepes presentation was a repetition of the tired, old arguments used by white South Africans to avoid accountability for their apartheid policies last century – policies which are mirrored in Israel today”
John Minto, Josephine Varghese and Will Alexander. John and Will brought the motion to council in June and John and Josephine spoke to the council meeting today that made the final decision.
Before the vote PSNA National Chair John Minto and University of Canterbury lecturer Josephine Varghese spoke in favour of the motion backed by a packed public gallery displaying a “Stop the genocide” banner.
“It would be nice to think the government would pick up resolution 2334 and show leadership in sanctioning Israel rather than leaving it to local bodies”
John Minto
National Chair
Something you can do now with just a few clicks…
Write an email congratulating Tyla Harrison-Hunt who was the councillor who moved the motion today and helped shepherd it through the council.
Tyla Harrison-Hunt
Tyla Harrison-Hunt
Christchurch City Council
tyla.harrisonhunt@ccc.govt.nz
Kia ora Tyla,
A very warm congratulations to you for moving the motion at Christchurch City Council this morning to begin to hold Israel to account for its 76-years of stealing Palestinian land.
Please also pass on my congratulations to all the councillors who voted in favour of this resolution.
It is so uplifting when people on positions of responsibility are prepared to be the voices of the voiceless in our institutions.
Thank you.
(your name and contact details)
The pro-Israel arguments that were defeated at Christchurch City Council today
Spokesperson for the New Zealand Jewish Council Ben Kepes appeared on Zoom at the council meeting to urge the council to vote against the PSNA-sponsored motion.
However it became clear quickly that rather than addressing Israel’s wholesale theft of Palestinian land and 76 years of brutal oppression of Palestinians, Mr Kepes was there simply to toss around a pile of red herrings and obfuscations to try to sow confusion amongst councillors. He failed.
The “arguments” he put forward included:
For example:
The situation is incredibly complex (No, it isn’t complex – settler colonialism is always about theft of land and racism towards indigenous peoples)
Why pick on Israel when so much injustice occurs elsewhere as well? (Israel is picking on itself with its apartheid policies and genocide of Palestinians)
New Zealand needs Israeli expertise and new technology (Simply untrue at every level)
It will damage New Zealand’s economy to apply BDS policies against Israel (No – it will expand our opportunities with the rest of the world who also reject racism and genocide)
Boycotting Israel companies will reduce the chances for Palestinians and Israelis to work together and build relationships (This was the National Party’s argument in the 1970s that New Zealand should “build bridges” with white South Africa so they would know better ways to treat black South Africans – patronising BS is still alive and well!)
BDS is in part at least anti-semitic (false smears of anti-semitism have always been used by Israel to attack anyone wanting to hold them to account)
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East (Israel has never been a democracy – it is an apartheid state which has opposed democracy in Arab countries – preferring to work with Arab despots and tyrants because they know the people of the Arab world are totally behind the Palestinian struggle)
We will face a lot more of these empty arguments as the BDS campaigns build momentum.
Keep your ear to the ground
Pass on to us any news you have of government MPs at public events so we can hold them to account. Send messages to Secretary@PSNA.nz
Nationwide rallies/marches/MP protests/vigils this week
To view events around Aotearoa:
Go to the PSNA Homepage – www.PSNA.nz
Scroll down to the button “For a list of events Nationwide, please click here - Check back often for updates”
Click the button
Check back on Friday for any moves, adds or changes
Or events are on the PSNA Facebook events page here
There are more than 30 events around the Motu this week.
North Island
Opononi - Gathering for Palestine
Sunday 27 October
No Rally this weekend
Kerikeri - Rally
Saturday 26 October
No Rally this weekend
Whangarei – Rally
Saturday 26 October
No Rally this weekend
Auckland – Talk by Vijay Prashad
Thursday 24 October
7:00 pm
Western Springs Garden Community Center
956 Great North Road, Western Springs
Auckland – Picket
Friday 25 October
No Picket this Friday – Labour Weekend
Next picket Wed 30 October @ 4:00 pm outside the US Consulate
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
Every Saturday
10:00 am
Text John on 021 899 659 for location
Auckland – Rally
Saturday 26 October
2:00 pm
Te Komititanga - Britomart Square, Tamaki Makaurau
Thames – Vigil to Stop the war on Children
(Hosted by The Basket – Social and Environmental Justice - Hauraki)
First Saturday of the month
Tauranga - Flag wave
Monday 28 – Labour Day
1:00 am
Coronation park, Mt Maunganui
Whakatane
Saturday 26 October
Rallies are being organised
Watch this space
Hamilton – Flag Waving for Palestine
Saturday 26 October
1:00 pm
Flynn Park, Hamilton
Raglan
To be advised
Watch this space
Cambridge - Rally for Palestine
Every Saturday
11:00 am
Cambridge Town Hall
Rotorua – Rally for Palestine
Every Thursday
4:30 pm
National MP Todd McClays Office - Cnr Amohau and Ranolf St lights, Rotorua
Gisborne - Farmers Market - Vigil to Stop the war on Children
Every Saturday
9:30 – 11:30 am
Gisborne Farmers Market
Napier - Rally for Palestine
Saturday 26 October
11:30 am
Marine Parade Soundshell Roundabout
Hastings – Rally for Palestine
Sunday 27 October
1:00 pm
Hastings Town Clock – Hastings CBD
Palmerston North - Rally for Palestine
Sunday 27 October
2:00 pm
The Square, Palmerston North
New Plymouth – Flags on the Bridge
Friday 25 September
4:30 pm
Paynters Ave Bridge, New Plymouth
New Plymouth – March for Gaza
Saturday 26 October
1:00 PM
Huatoki Plaza, Ngamotu, New Plymouth
Whanganui - Rally for Palestine
Saturday 26 October
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, Masterton
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 – Obela boycott rally
(hosted by the Falastin Tea Collective)
Saturday 26 October
1:00 - 2:00 pm
Outside Countdown in Newtown, Wellington
Meeting on the corner of Hanson St and John St
South Island
Nelson – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 26 October
10:30 am
Rocks Road by the beach
Blenheim - Rally for Palestine
Saturday 26 October
11:00 am
Blenheim Railway Station
Littleton - Flag Waving for Palestine
Wednesday 23 October
4:00 pm
Corner of Sutton Quay and Norwich Quay, Littleton
Christchurch - Flag Waving for Palestine
Friday 25 October
4:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch
Christchurch – Rally
Saturday 26 October
1:00 – 2:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch
Timaru
No Rally this weekend
Dunedin – Rally and March
Saturday 19 October
No Rally this weekend
Queenstown
No Rally this weekend
Invercargill - Rally for Palestine
Sunday 27 October
1:00 pm
Wachner place Invercargill
BDS action: Watch out for the Obela campaign newsletter later this week
In the meantime you may want some of these stickers – send a note to obelastickers@PSNA.nz and we will send you some.
Zionism: Origins, goals and influence
PSNA is supporting and promoting this important webinar which is on next week…
Prayer vigil on the anniversary of the killing of Christian worshippers in Gaza
Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine, supported by PSNA, organised a prayer vigil of about 40 people to remember the victims of the Israeli bombing of St Porphyrius Church in Gaza one year ago on 19 October 2024 when 18 innocent Palestinian Christians were killed.
The vigil was outside the office of our Minister of Immigration, calling for the granting of special humanitarian visas for people to leave Gaza and come to safety with family in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Sinwar is the first Palestinian political chief to be killed in the battlefield since 1948 here
Bombings, killer drones, and starvation: eyewitnesses describe Israel’s extermination campaign in northern Gaza here
Will Israel learn from its history or be doomed to repeat its mistakes? here
Sinwar killing will complicate Israel’s war on Gaza not bring it to an end here
Quote of the week
“The elimination of Hamas and the return of the hostages was not the goal of the war in recent times. The goal is to change the borders of the Gaza Strip and to eliminate Palestinian nationalism in Gaza and transfer as many people as possible.”
Meron Rapoport, Israeli journalist
Revealing government secrets on AUKUS and the Gaza here
US: Make aid reach Gaza but not until children starve to death for another 30 days here
Processes versus People: The Clocktower Protest for Palestine
The full incredible story is here
“Flowers for Palestine - Putiputi mō Parihitini”
On Wednesday 16th October, the Whanganui Palestine Solidarity Network will be launching a community-driven project called "Flowers of Palestine - Putiputi mō Parihitini". The initiative warmly invites the Whanganui community to contribute to the embroidering of flowers on a large-scale tapestry - with each flower representing a life lost in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
Whanganui has shown its commitment to peace by becoming the first council in Aotearoa to formally call for a ceasefire. It added its call to the collective voices of hundreds of local government bodies the world over. “We are so proud of our community. The enormous support the ceasefire motion received underscores our shared resolve as a community to respond to global crises with compassion and action. Despite these efforts and many others, the violence persists, leaving our communities in ongoing mourning. That is why we created Flowers for Palestine," says project founder, Renata Szarvas.
By engaging in the art of embroidery, participants of all ages will have the opportunity to learn basic stitching techniques from local artists who will offer experienced help, and contribute to a collective work that serves as both a tribute to the monumental loss of life and also a powerful call for peace. The group aims to engage and weave together the rich diversity of our riverside city and to foster constructive dialogue, allowing participants to unite in their shared pursuit of community and remembrance through creative expression.
“Our project seeks to create a space where people can come together to express solidarity and find comfort through creativity and community.”
The group envisages this project spanning months, giving many the opportunity to contribute a flower to the tapestry. The long term nature of this project will aim to provide the community with the opportunity to engage in meaningful dialogue and build relationships with one another. The project will culminate in an exhibition on the 25th of May 2025 - the anniversary of the 1948 Nakba.
“We welcome everyone — of every religion and background, young and old, experienced and novice embroiderers — to join us in this cathartic and meaningful work. Together we want to create a powerful symbol of the compassion we want to see in the world.”
Webinar: International student movements against genocide in Palestine
The ongoing Palestinian holocaust, Israel burning Palestinians alive
At the 7:30 minute mark into the Al-Jazeera report show the burning hand still waving as survivors desperately search to find water to rescue the burning victims alive.
UN experts warn international order on a knife’s edge, urge States to comply with ICJ Advisory Opinion
United Nations human rights experts have again appealed to western governments to support the International Court of Justice’s advisory opinion that Israel’s occupation of Gaza, the West Bank and East Jerusalem are illegal.
Here is part of the text of the statement:
“States must act now. They must listen to voices calling on them to take action to stop Israel’s attacks against the Palestinians and end its unlawful occupation. All States have a legal obligation to comply with the ICJ’s ruling and must promote adherence to norms that protect civilians. Therefore, States should:
Immediately review all diplomatic, political, and economic interactions with Israel to ensure they do not support or provide aid or assistance to its unlawful presence in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Abstain from recognising or take steps to reverse any recognition of any changes in the physical character or demographic composition, institutional structure or status of the occupied Palestinian territory, including in their treaty relations with Israel, and while acting as members of international organisations.
Take all measures to ensure that the Palestinian people in the occupied Palestinian territory can fully exercise and realise their right to self-determination including by recognition of the State of Palestine.
Impose a full arms embargo on Israel, halting all arms agreements, imports, exports and transfers, including of dual-use items that could be used against the Palestinian population under occupation.
Ban goods and services emerging from both the colonisation of occupied Palestinian territory and other unlawful activities that may be detrimental to Palestinians' rights, from entering their territory and markets, and take measures to label and permit goods and services emerging from Palestinian individuals and entities in occupied territory.
Cancel or suspend economic relationships, trade agreements and academic relations with Israel that may contribute to its unlawful presence and apartheid regime in the occupied Palestinian territory.
Impose sanctions, including asset freezes, on Israeli individuals, entities including businesses, corporations and financial institutions, involved in the unlawful occupation and apartheid regime as well as on any foreign or domestic entities and individuals subject to their jurisdiction that supply goods and services that may aid, assist or enable occupation and apartheid.
Prevent all of their citizens who hold dual citizenship with Israel from serving in the Israeli military or other services that contribute to the occupation and apartheid regime or from buying or renting property anywhere in occupied Palestinian territory.
Investigate and prosecute those subjects to their jurisdiction, who are involved in crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory, including dual citizens serving in Israel’s military, including mercenaries or those involved in settler violence.
Rescind legislation and policies that criminalise and penalise advocacy in support of Palestinian rights to self-determination and non-violent opposition to Israel’s occupation and apartheid, including support for the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement.
Disseminate the Court’s findings widely, ensuring that the occupied status of the West Bank including east Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, and the illegality of Israel’s presence are reflected in public documents and education systems.
Make submissions to the ICC so that it investigates international crimes included in the ICJ opinion.
Convene General Assemblies of States parties under the Rome Statute or the Fourth Geneva Convention, to ensure full compliance by all parties in Palestine and Israel with international humanitarian law and international criminal law.
Ensure full protection of Palestinians, especially women, children, persons with disabilities, and older persons by establishing a protective presence and ensuring safe and full access for independent experts and mechanisms charged with monitoring and investigating human rights violations and international crimes in the occupied Palestinian territory.”
The New Zealand government has been stoney silent about this report. They have taken no steps to back up the ICJ advisory opinion aside from voting to do so at the UN General Assembly. The government is full of hollow words but no action.
Note the fascist map of Israel inside the red circle
Far-right Israeli Minister of Finance Bezalel Smotrich has drawn criticism for calling for Israel to expand its borders to Damascus in a recent documentary. In an interview for the documentary, In Israel: Ministers of Chaos, produced by European public service channel, Arte, Smotrich claimed that Israel would expand “little by little” and eventually encompass all Palestinian territories as well as Jordan, Lebanon, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia. "It is written that the future of Jerusalem is to expand to Damascus," he said, citing the “greater Israel” ideology, which envisions the expansion of the state across the Middle East.
Smotrich previously cited the concept at a memorial service for a Likud activist in Paris. When speaking from a podium decorated with a map of Israel that included Jordan, he claimed that there was “no such thing” as the Palestinian people. Aside from being the finance minister, Smotrich now holds significant powers over the occupied West Bank. At the end of February, the minister said that the state of Israel should "wipe out" the Palestinian village of Huwwara, after it was subjected to a violent rampage by Israeli settlers.
Invitation from International League of People’s Struggle to an ILPS assembly on November 15-17
Already several people from PSNA are attending this event and it would be good if more can come. Here is the letter of invite we received.
Kia ora,
Warm greetings of solidarity!
We are honoured to invite PSNA to the first in-person assembly of the International League of Peoples' Struggle (ILPS) Aotearoa, where movements, organisations, and alliances committed to unity, cooperation, and coordination in anti-imperialist and democratic struggles will come together.
The assembly will take place from 2 pm on November 15 to 3 pm on November 17, 2024, at the Willowhaven Holiday Park in Rotorua.
This gathering is especially urgent in the face of global crises, including the worsening genocide in Palestine. As the resistance to imperialism grows, the need to strengthen our collective resolve has never been more critical. Together, we aim to build new alliances and fortify existing ones, ensuring that our global fight against imperialism and all forms of oppression remains steadfast and resolute.
Your participation in this assembly is vital, and we warmly welcome the powerful insights and contributions your organization will bring. Let us unite in solidarity to stand against imperialism and support the struggles of oppressed peoples worldwide.
For registration and more details of the conference please email ilps.nz@proton.me
Kasama sa pakikibaka/In Solidarity,
Eugene Velasco,
GABRIELA Aotearoa NZ Secretary
FIANZ young leaders call out government double standards on Palestine
This report is in Flipbook format here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/23daea6d0c.html
You can email feedback and constructive suggestions on the way forward here: fianzyouthadvocacy@gmail.com
Don’t Bank on Apartheid
Right now, ASB KiwiSaver funds have over $14 million invested in Motorola Solutions Inc. who are part of a United Nations list of 116 companies enabling illegal Israeli settlements.4 They are the technology and surveillance arm of the Israeli military and have custom built technologies for this occupying force. Their technology is used in illegal settlements, checkpoints, in the illegal “separation barrier” and by the military.5 Due to the recent ruling at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) there is now also a legal case that we should not be doing business with companies like Motorola.
We are asking ASB to make a choice: divest its KiwiSaver funds from Motorola Solutions Inc. or watch your customers switch en masse on November 29th, Day of Solidarity with Palestinians.
Whether or not you have a Kiwisaver with ASB.
A personal reflection on the killing of Yahya Sinwar – Richard McLaughlan
After Stuff newspapers pulled our paid advertisement from all their papers last week, the banned advertisement was published in the Christchurch Star community newspaper. Lots of positive feedback from local people here.
"Does the world expect us to be well-behaved victims while we're getting killed? For us to be slaughtered without making a noise? That's impossible" (Sinwar interviewed by Hind Hassan in 2021)
As I listened to the news of his death this morning, I was deeply moved by the image of a badly injured man sitting in a dusty armchair in the ruins of what was once someone's home. In combat gear, with a mere gun, facing a tank, his last act was to throw a stick or piece of debris at an Israeli drone hovering, wasp-like, over his head filming his defeat.
The scene somehow epitomises the grotesque asymmetry of the entire Palestinian struggle for dignity and self-determination (or even just the opportunity to have your children remain alive into adulthood).
Armed with every state-of-the-art form of weaponry and surveillance, backed by the greatest military power on earth, the IDF only found Sinwar by chance after an entire year spent liquidating the ghetto that was Gaza. He wasn't hiding in the tunnels shielded by captured Israelis, he wasn't on the run - he was fighting an enemy in the ruins of his community. If, for the Israelis, "Satan was assassinated" (according to Israel's most popular newspaper), then for countless Arabs and Muslims and oppressed people in general, Sinwar will live on as a freedom-fighter and a martyr.
Yes, he organised the attack and killing of Israeli citizens, and war crimes were committed in the process. Yes, he was said to have brutally killed Palestinians who collaborated with the Israelis. While I could neither do those things nor justify them, they exist in a very long continuum of freedom struggle.
When it comes to brutal massacres, why does no-one mention My Lai when expressing horror at October 7th? Or the Sabra and Shatilla massacres facilitated and watched over by the IDF? Or the Nakba massacres of 1948? No-one said Satan was dead when Ariel Sharon died, or Menachem Begin, yet they were both mass-murderers. Kissinger, Cheney, Rumsfeld.....History itself is grotesque!
Yahya Sinwar knew he would die violently. He wanted that, as he said, rather than the ordinary death that awaits so many of us. All Hamas and Hezbollah leaders know they will die in the struggle to defeat their enemies, mostly at the hands of an Israeli assassination squad. But the struggle will continue because colonialism is not yet dead. There's nothing 'neo' about colonialism; it's a long dreary continuum of the same disgusting brutality and dispossession.
According to Netanyahu, "we once again showed the world the victory of good over evil". What they really showed the world was the cowardly annihilation of 42,000 trapped Palestinians by unrelenting bombing from thousands of feet up in the sky, by unmanned lethal drones hovering overhead, and by armoured vehicles and tanks (all informed by full-spectrum surveillance), against lightly-armed fighters with weapons primitive by comparison. Some victory! Satan's not dead, he's alive and well in Tel Aviv.
Cactus pear for my beloved – new book by Samah Sabawi
Don't forget to grab a copy of my new book Cactus Pear for My Beloved: A family story from Gaza
https://www.penguin.com.au/books/cactus-pear-for-my-beloved-9781761344978
Tautoko Gaza in music
TAUTOKO GAZA
Tautoko Gaza - Aotearoa Artists in Solidarity with Palestine
This amazing compilation album from Aotearoa New Zealand artists was released in November last year to stand in support of Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
It has now been nominated for best compilation at the Mighty Aotearoa Alternative Award being held in Ōtautahi/Christchurch in early November.
You can listen and buy the album at the link below - all funds go to Medical Aid for Palestine!
Give this album the big push it deserves!
A great Xmas present…
And once again remember you can still take action on these asks from recent newsletters…
1. Each week thousands of letters are going to all MPs – have you written your letter and sent it to us so we can get it to all MPs?
All the details you need to join the letter-writing campaign are on our website here
2. Have you sent a letter of complaint to your local supermarket about selling Obela Hommus and other products yet?
Sample letter of complaint to your local supermarket
Kia ora,
I am asking you to withdraw Obela Hommus and other Obela products from your shelves because it is supporting the genocide in Gaza. Obela is owned by the Strauss Group in Israel which helps finance and provides “care packages” for Israeli troops involved in genocide in Gaza.
It is unacceptable to have such a product in the store, particularly as the International Court of Justice ruled last month that Israel’s occupation of Palestine is unlawful and that all countries should end any “aid or assistance” to Israel to maintain its illegal occupation.
Selling Israeli products in New Zealand supermarkets is assisting the Israeli economy enabling the occupation to continue.
Please stop selling this product which assists genocide and assists Israel to continue its occupation of in Palestine.
Please get back to me urgently.
Name
Contact details
More details of the campaign will be in the Obela Newsletter special later this week.
Remember BDS for Aotearoa New Zealand
Remember our big six BDS targets for Aotearoa New Zealand?
Obela Hummus and other Obela products
Ahava skin care products
Sodastream
HP (Hewlett-Packard)
BP and Caltex
McDonalds
BIBI - My Story
Watch out for this book in booksellers around the country which celebrates the life of a genocidal racist whom the Chief Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court wants to arrest and try for war crimes…
If you see the book in a bookstore, protest to the management and/or be creative in shifting copies out of the public eye, use your imagination….
Important stories this week
Editor’s Pick’s
Palestinians seen burning alive in horrifying videos following Israeli bombing of Gaza hospital here
Nicaragua breaks diplomatic ties with 'fascist' Israel amid Gaza, Lebanon war here
25 Palestinians killed as Israel strikes school, tents housing displaced Gazans here
Four Days in Gaza: Five Journalists Killed or Wounded here
Biden Is Helping Netanyahu Attack Iran – and Risking the Lives of US Troops in the Process here
Israel is turning northern Gaza into a killing cage here
Israel’s unit 8200 spies in American media here
Israel's forever wars in the Middle East will pave the way for its demise here
Israel is a rogue nation. It should be removed from the United Nations here (Mehdi Hasan)
Call on Israel to end its brutal occupation and ban imports from illegal settlements here (Amnesty campaign)
Spain, Ireland demand EU suspend free trade agreement with Israel here
Other Stories
The names of those killed in Israel’s genocide in Gaza here
If they are not killed in the ongoing Israeli bombing, 400,000 Palestinians could be starved to death in northern Gaza here
With booby-trapped robots loaded with explosives, Israel escalates killing and destruction in northern Gaza here
Plaid Cymru accuses Israel of genocide as party calls for boycott here
Biden sends antimissile system and 100 troops to Israel, deepening U.S. role here
Israel’s forgotten terror here
Israel’s mass detention of Palestinians is aimed to break our spirit here
What is the Hannibal Directive and why is it controversial? here
Palestinian man burned alive after Israeli strike on hospital courtyard here
Mass burials and unidentifiable bodies: Horror accounts of Israeli attacks in south Lebanon here
Lebanon: Israel’s targeting of relief teams, Red Cross crews is a serious violation of int’l humanitarian law here
US threatens Israel but deploys troops, revealing policy inconsistency here
Israeli academics lead way in advocating 'process of extermination' of Palestinians here
Is Israel deploying a ‘surrender or starve’ strategy in Gaza? here
Anti-Zionist beliefs ‘worthy of respect’, UK tribunal finds here
Israel’s Smotrich calls for Israeli conquest of Middle East 'bit by bit' from Jerusalem to Damascus here
Zionist ‘safety patrols’ on campus have little concern for Jewish safety here
Excellent fascist documentary here
As US puppets, the Australian political class rejects international humanitarian law here
Read our latest update on Palestinian children in Israeli military detention here
The ethnic cleansing of Palestine by Ilan Pappe
A reader tells us this book can be obtained on electronic copy at no cost here Printed copies are available from The Nile, $26.10 + shipping from here.
There is also a 15-page article from Ilan Pappe based on the book and that is available here
Watch out for this man promoting racism and apartheid
Here he is – the Israeli ambassador – watch out for him around Aotearoa New Zealand – if you hear of any planned appearances or speaking engagements please contact us urgently: Email apartheid-Israel@PSNA.nz or text 027 4 APARTHEID or 027427278.
Israeli ambassador Ran Yaakoby
Reminder: Dates for Palestine Solidarity during the year
Israel apartheid week has been added to the dates for likely local and national Palestine solidarity activity this year.
28 Mar – 4 Apr Israel Apartheid Week
30 Mar Land Day Palestine
5 Apr Palestinian Childs Day
9 Apr Deir Yassin massacre - Irgun Terrorism - 107-120 Palestinian men, women and children massacred
17 Apr Palestinian Prisoners Day
11 May World Kufiya Day
15 May Nakba Day – marking the mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Palestine in 1948
5 Jun Nakba Day - Start of 1967 War - Land Grab – Invasion of Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Egypt and Syria - 5 June 1967 – 10 June 1967
20 Jun Attack on Gaza - 6–21 May 2021 (2 weeks and 1 day)
16-18 Sep 40th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres
28 Sep Second Intifada - 28 Sept 2000 – 8 Feb 2005
2 Nov Balfour Declaration
29 Nov United Nations - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
8 Dec First Intifada - 8 Dec 1987 – 13 Sept 1993
Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign?
We will need some serious money to make our campaign as effective as possible. For example, we will need somewhere in the vicinity of $25,000 to bring speakers to New Zealand over the next year and organise large public meetings to help spread the message.
You can help. Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign? In other words, can you afford to make an automatic payment of $5 per month to support the Palestinian struggle? (If you can afford more that would be great!)
Our account details are:
Account name: Palestine Solidarity Network
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-00
We are happy to provide a receipt upon request (however, we are not a registered charity so this is not tax-deductible)
In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter – an invitation to subscribe from Leslie Bravery
Because of mainstream news media complicity, daily headlines and commentary only occasionally ever mention the relentless Israeli violence in Palestine, not even the frequent air strikes!
However, daily news and statistics regarding the violence Palestinians are forced to live under are regularly reported on in the “In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter”, sourced and compiled for easy reading and correlation chiefly from the Palestinian Monitoring Group's daily situation reports.
The In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter continues to be circulated, by email, worldwide to subscribers only, as it has been over the last two decades.
Please contact lesliebravery@icloud.com if you also wish to become a subscriber.
Merchandise for sale
We have Merchandise you can buy including T-shirts from our website.
Go here - https://www.psna.nz/shop
More ways you can get involved
Forward this Newsletter – If you know people who may be interested in this movement, please forward this Newsletter to them.
Join in local activities in your area - Contact Secretary@PSNA.nz if you would like to know where and how to get Flags and Banners
Help set up a Students for Justice in Palestine groups on your campus
Tell Your MP your opinions on Divestment and Sanctions of Israel.
Write Letters to Newspapers – Call Talkback Radio
Keep in touch with the campaign on social media
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network website: https://www.PSNA.nz
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/671376706283605/
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network email: Secretary@PSNA.nz
The Palestine Human Rights Campaign produces the In Occupied Palestine newsletter. It is a regular daily newsletter on the daily situation in Palestine, compiled by Leslie Bravery and emailed to subscribers. If you would also like to become a subscriber, please contact Leslie at “lesliebravery @ icloud .com” (remove the spaces to use as an email address) for further information.
Keep Updated on our Facebook pages and websites (listed below)
Human rights for Uyghur refugees - In line with our support for human rights for the people of Palestine we have added our name to the petition in support of human rights for Uyghur refugees so they can be included in the government’s refugee quota. PSNA members who wish to also sign this petition can do so here - https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/open-letter-let-s-show-compassion-to-the-uyghur-community
PSNA Groups
PSNA National Committee
Website: www.PSNA.nz
Chair - John Minto: Chair@PSNA.nz
Secretary - Neil Scott: Secretary@PSNA.nz
Regional Groups
Bay of Islands PSN Bay of Islands (Email)
Whangarei PSN Whangarei (Facebook)
Auckland PSN Auckland – Tamaki Makaurau (Website)
Hamilton Palestine Human Rights Campaign Waikato (Facebook)
Tauranga Tauranga Moana 4 Palestine (Facebook)
Napier/Hastings Aotearoa Standing with Palestine (Facebook)
Palmerston North PSN Palmerston North (Email)
New Plymouth PSN Taranaki (Facebook)
Wellington PSN Wellington (Email)
Nelson Te Tau Ihu (Nelson) Palestine (Facebook)
Christchurch PSN Christchurch (Facebook)
Dunedin Dunedin for Justice in Palestine (Facebook)
Invercargill PSNA Invercargill (Email)