PSNA Newsletter No 172- January 22 2025
22 Kohitātea 2024
22 December 2024
Newsletter No 172
Israeli soldiers should not enjoy rest and recreation from genocide in New Zealand
In December PSNA wrote to the Minister of Foreign Affairs asking for a suspension of all visitors from Israel who are in the Israel Defence for or reservists for the IDF.
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Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
W.Peters@ministers.govt.nz
Cc Prime Minister
Kia ora Mr Peters,
Call for suspending visas to Israeli soldiers
You will be aware of media reports of Israeli soldiers being denied visas to enter Australia after being required to fill in a 13-page form to determine if they had been involved in war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.
Israelis coming to New Zealand face no such requirements. As well as the working holiday visa, since 2019 Israelis can enter New Zealand for three months without needing a visa at all. This visa-waiver is used by Israeli soldiers today for “rest and recreation” from the genocide in Gaza.
New Zealand could put in place measures such as those used in Australia but you will appreciate it is not possible to depend on Israeli soldiers to give accurate reports of their involvement in war crimes so we are asking the government to suspend all visas for Israelis who are serving in or who have served in the Israeli Defence Force.
United Nations officials, the International Court of Justice and now Amnesty International have all variously used the term genocide to describe the actions of the Israeli Defence Forces in Gaza where over 45,000 People – mostly women and children – have been slaughtered.
Finally last month the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Israeli Defence minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
All these red flags for genocide have been visible for months but your government is still giving the green light to those responsible for war crimes to enter New Zealand.
By suspending all visas for Israeli soldiers to enter New Zealand the government would be responding to our solemn responsibilities under the Genocide Convention to ‘prevent and punish’ the crime of genocide.
We expect no less from you as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Please respond to this letter without unnecessary delay.
PSNA
See “Three things you can do…” later in the newsletter”
PSNA national conference February 22/23 in Wellington
PLEASE NOTE: If you are booking travel to come please note the conference will begin at 9am on Saturday 22 February and finish at 3pm on Sunday 23 February.
Palestinian playwright, scholar, commentator and poet, Samah Sabawi, will be a keynote speaker at the PSNA national conference in February. Samah is based in Australia and will be at our conference as part of a short speaking tour of Aotearoa New Zealand.
Mark the date 22/23 February to be in Wellington. More details of the programme will follow in future newsletters.
We will arrange billeting in Wellington for people from out of town and we will be able to help out with petrol costs to get there and airfares for those too far away to drive easily.
It will be a fantastic uplifting conference - looking forward to seeing you there!
Zionism: origins, goals and influence – webinar with Prof Haim Bresheeth-Zabner
Samah Sabawi’s tour
Poster for Samah’s Ōtautahi public meeting
As well as addressing our national meeting in Wellington, Samah Sabawi will be visiting these centres around the country. Watch for further details to come:
Sunday 16 Feb – Auckland
· 2pm Book Reading at Takapuna library
· 7pm Public Meeting at Freeman’s Bay Community Centre
Monday 17 Feb – Hamilton
Tuesday 18 Feb – Wellington
Wednesday 19 Feb – Dunedin
Thursday 20 Feb – Christchurch
· 7pm Public Meeting at Transitional Cathedral (Scorpio Books will have stall)
Friday 21 Feb – Nelson
Saturday 22 Feb – Wellington
(Keynote address at PSNA national meeting)
Palestine will be at Waitangi again this year!
The Palestine solidarity stall at Waitangi in 2024 – it will be there again in 2025!
There was strong support for Palestine at Waitangi last year – see the picture above – and there will be a Palestine solidarity stall at this year’s Waitangi festival as well. If you are up at Waitangi please come and give your support. We look forward to seeing you!
Three actions you can take now with just a few clicks…
1) Post the “Genocide hotline” poster (at the start of this newsletter) on your social media pages and encourage people to share
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2) Copy and paste this email to the Minister of Foreign Affairs calling for action to stop Israeli soldiers from holidaying in New Zealand.
Winston Peters
Minister of Foreign Affairs
W.Peters@ministers.govt.nz
Cc Prime Minister
Kia ora Mr Peters,
Call for suspending visas to Israeli soldiers
You will be aware of media reports of Israeli soldiers being denied visas to enter Australia after being required to fill in a 13-page form to determine if they had been involved in war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza.
Israelis coming to New Zealand face no such requirements. As well as the working holiday visa, since 2019 Israelis can enter New Zealand for three months without needing a visa at all. This visa-waiver is used by Israeli soldiers today for “rest and recreation” from the genocide in Gaza.
Your government would not tolerate Russian soldiers coming here for rest and recreation after invading Ukraine so whay would we allow Israeli soldiers fresh from a genocide to holiday here?
Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Medicines sans Frontiers (Doctors without Borders) have all declared what Israeli has done in Gaza a genocide and the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant.
By suspending all entry for Israeli soldiers to enter New Zealand the government would be responding to our solemn responsibilities under the Genocide Convention to ‘prevent and punish’ the crime of genocide.
We expect no less from yourself and the government.
Please respond to this letter without unnecessary delay.
(your name)
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3) If you have not done so already please write to RNZ and TVNZ to ask they refuse to broadcast any more racist propaganda from the BBC
Phil O’Sullivan
New Editor
TVNZ
Phil.osullivan@tvnz.co.nz
Paul Thompson
Editor in Chief
Paul.Thompson@rnz.co.nz
Kia ora kōrua,
Request to refuse to broadcast any more racist propaganda on the Middle East from the BBC
After 16 months of Israeli genocide of Palestinians – a genocide confirmed by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Medecins Sans Frontieres – Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand are still broadcasting BBC reports on Israel’s war on Gaza which are blatantly anti-Palestinian, pro-Israeli propaganda.
The bias has been exposed by BBC employees and reveals the BBC’s Middle East Editor – the now notorious Raffi Berg – has been identified as “turning its (BBC) coverage into “systematic Israeli propaganda.” Unsurprisingly Berg has been further identified as a CIA, Mossad collaborator.
BBC reporting under Berg centres on Israeli narratives, Israeli reasoning and Israeli justifications while Palestinian voices, if they appear at all in these broadcasts, are marginalised and sidelined.
I want a commitment from both TVNZ and RNZ that you will immediately end the broadcast of BBC reports from the Middle East. There are many more news sources available to you which give balanced, accurate and unbiased reporting on the Middle East.
I look forward to your response.
(your name)
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 - Shared Palestinian themed lunch
Saturday 25 January
1:00 pm
Outside Opononi four square
Kerikeri - Rally
First Saturday of the month
Whangarei – Rally
No Rally this week
Waiheke – Market Stall – hosted by Stand With Palestine Waiheke!
Every Saturday
8:00 am – 1:00 pm
Ostend Market, Waiheke Island
Auckland – Stand for Palestine
Monday – Friday
3:00 – 4:00 pm at the US Consulate - 23 Customs Street East
4:00 – 5:00 pm at Te Komititanga Britomart Square
Auckland Picket - Joining Marika at Stand for Palestine (see above)
Wednesday 15 January
3:00 – 4:00 pm at the US Consulate - 23 Customs Street East
4:00 – 5:00 pm at Te Komititanga Britomart Square
Auckland – Banners around Tamaki Makaurau
Every Saturday
This week
10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Orams Road overbridge in Manurewa. Near Pedestal Lane Park.
Text John on 021 899 659 for more details
Auckland – Rally Pause
The full rally is Paused so we can reinvigorate ourselves.
A smaller event will take place.
Saturday 25 January
2:00 pm
Te Komititanga - Britomart Square, Tamaki Makaurau
Auckland – Banner Making session
Sunday 26 January – 10:00 – 9:00 pm
Monday 27 January – 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Corban Estate Art Centre, 2 Mt Lebanon Lane, Henderson
Thames – Vigil to Stop the war on Children
(Hosted by The Basket – Social and Environmental Justice - Hauraki)
First Saturday of the month
Tauranga – Picnic in the Park
Friday 24 January
6:00 pm
Gourmet Night Market, Coronation Park, Mt Maunganui
Tauranga – Flags for Palestine
Sunday 26 January
11:00 am
Papamoa shopping center, Domain & Gravatt Rd, Papamoa
Hamilton – Community Gathering
Friday 24 January
6:00 pm
Riverbank, Memorial Park, Memorial Drive
Hamilton – Flag Waving for Palestine
Saturday 25 January
No Flags – This is a Rest and re-energise weekend
Hamilton – Rally
Saturday 25 January
No Rally - This is a Rest and re-energise weekend
Raglan
Sunday 25 January
Nothing this week
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 25 January
11:30 am
Marine Parade Soundshell Roundabout
Hastings – Rally for Palestine
Sunday 26 January
1:00 pm
Hastings Town Clock – Hastings CBD
Palmerston North - Rally
Every Sunday
2:00 pm
The Square, Palmerston North
New Plymouth – Flags at the Council
Every Friday
4:00 – 5:30 pm
New Plymouth District Council, 84 Liardet Street
New Plymouth – Flags for Palestine
Saturday 25 January
1:00 PM
The Landing, 1 Ariki Street, New Plymouth
Whanganui - Rally for Palestine
Saturday 25 January
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 – Flags on the Bridge
(hosted by the Falastin Tea Collective)
Every Friday
7:45 – 8:45 am
Hill Street bridge Overbridge, Wellington
Wellington – Vigil for Palestine
(hosted by Aotearoa Healthcare Workers for Palestine)
Every Friday
6:00 pm
In front of Wellington Hospital, 49 Riddiford Street, Newtown, Wellington
Wellington – Rally
(hosted by the Falastin Tea Collective)
Saturday 25 January
1:00 pm
Check out https://www.instagram.com/falastin_tea_collective for details
South Island
Nelson – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 25 January
10:30 am
1903 Square, Upper Trafalgar Street, Nelson
Blenheim - Rally for Palestine
Saturday 25 January
11:00 am
Blenheim Railway Station
Christchurch – Flags for Palestine
Friday 24 January
4:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch
Christchurch – Rally for Palestine
Saturday 25 January
1:00 pm
Bridge of Remembrance, Cashel Street, Christchurch
Timaru
No Rally this weekend
Dunedin – Rally
Saturday 25 January
No Rally this weekend
Queenstown
No rally this weekend
Invercargill - Rally for Palestine
Sunday 26 January
1:00 pm
Wachner place Invercargill
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
The stickers keep going on…
If you’d like some stickers email your address to Merchandise@PSNA.nz and we will send them to you. (Note: we will have a specific Sodastream sticker available soon)
A few pics from around the country…
Falastin Tea Collective protest in Wellington
Yasser Abdulaal and his daughter Siwar in Ōtautahi/Christchurch handing out sweet treats to celebrate the temporary ceasefire in Gaza
In the Christchurch Press last Saturday
What to boycott over Summer?
Watch out for the main BDS targets over summer – don’t buy them and spread the word to friends, family and workmates…
1) Sodastream
2) HP products
3) BP and Caltex petrol stations
4) McDonald’s
5) Ahava beauty products
On-line in Aotearoa
https://www.onceit.co.nz/
https://freshbeautyco.co.nz/collections/
https://www.cosmeticsnow.nz/about
https://www.pharmacydirect.co.nz/Ahava (they also have products under the brand 'Dead Sea')
https://www.recreateyourself.co.nz/ (based in Oz)
https://nz.cosmostore.org/catalog/brands/
Stores: Harvey Norman!
An evening with Gabor Mate in Auckland
Dr Gabor Mate is visiting Auckland in Feb. His talk will not focus on Palestine, but he is a strong opponent of Israel’s genocide in Gaza.
Tickets available at this link.
Merchandise for sale
We are ready to mail to you any of our t-shirts, long ($35) and short ($30) sleeved, hoodies ($45) bumper stickers ($3), Tino/Palestine pins ($3) flags ($10) and other items plus postage.
See more on the PSNA website here.
Email Merchandise@PSNA.nz with your order.
Important stories this week
Editor’s Pick’s
FREE DR HUSSAM ABU SAFIYA here (Amnesty International campaign)
What is the new American imperial plan in the Arab world? here
Five Journalists in Gaza Reflect on Ceasefire Announcement here
The ceasefire agreement, explained – Mondoweiss here
Chris Hedges on the Gaza ceasefire charade here
The day after the ceasefire: Boycotts, sanctions and divestments must intensify here
Double standards: Between Gaza, Los Angeles and Ukraine here
Israeli historian says Zionism entering its ‘last phase’ here
Gaza ceasefire: After 15 months of brutality, Israel has failed on every front here
A Year of Empty Threats and a “Smokescreen” Policy: How the State Department Let Israel Get Away With Horrors in Gaza here
Israeli Genocide in Gaza Kills 708 Athletes, Destroys 273 Sports Facilities – Report here
Palestinian women detail Israeli sexual assaults in Kamal Adwan raid here
Israel must be added to UN’s sexual violence blacklist here
Candles in the darkness: Enterprising young people of Gaza here
Other Stories
Corbyn is being smeared again – this time to stop protests against genocide here
No innocents in Gaza – Israel’s first fascist war designed to appease the far right here
How the Israeli Army's Disregard for Ethics Spread Like Fire Through the Ranks here
Keir Starmer's support for the Gaza ceasefire is riddled with lies here
Max Blumenthal holds Butcher Blinken accountable for his crimes here (video)
And here they physically remove the reporter Sam Husseini, and watch Blinken smirk. It’s because Sam is Arab America asking embarrassing questions here
This is a short with Dr. Finkelstein on how the Genocidal State now runs the US here (video)
There are several outstanding songs emerging about the Gazan people Here is one.
A ceasefire at last - but the seeds of future conflicts have been sown here
Biden Worked 'Tirelessly Around The Clock' — To Prevent A Ceasefire here
Marwan Bargouti’s release being discussed in part two of the ceasefire here
Kamala Harris Paid the Price for Not Breaking With Biden on Gaza, New Poll Shows here
Gaza genocide protestors welcome ceasefire but will fight on for justice here
Images and video from Saturday’s Auckland rally here
Aid agencies ready to boost humanitarian help for Gaza – MSF says it’s too late here
None of these war criminals will face justice while the US empire exists here
After 15 months of brutality Israel has failed on every front here
Māori politicians call for rapid aid to Gaza after ceasefire deal here
Global watchdog calls for open probe into crimes against Gaza media as ceasefire agreed here
Killing for killings sake here
Ceasefire: Palestinian resilience prevails in Israel’s genocidal war here
“Barbarians and their accomplices.” here
EXCLUSIVE: Hamas Intends to Uphold Agreement, Senior Official Tells Drop Site in 30-Minute Interview here
Amnesty petition calling on NZ govt to act here
The Palestinian Authority's Assault on the West Bank Resistance here
Antony Blinken’s Legacy Is Buried Under the Rubble of Gaza here
THE TIKTOK BAN IS ALSO ABOUT HIDING PRO-PALESTINIAN CONTENT. REPUBLICANS SAID SO THEMSELVES here
Palestinian representative at UN gets emotional here
UN: Israeli occupation forces blocked most and impeded the rest of aid shipments to north Gaza here
John Oliver explains the West Bank here
Israel still can’t find any 7 October rape victims, prosecutor admits here
Lancet Study Finds Official Gaza Death Toll Likely a 41% Undercount here
ACTION: Ask governments to stop Israel closing down UNRWA here
Palestine, a song here
Irish singer at risk of losing contracts, skyrockets in popularity as she sings about Genocide and global chaos here
Two Young Children Were Getting Ready for School. An IDF Drone Killed Them here
Israeli Gaza Urbicide Erasing The Physical Record Of 4,000 Year Gaza History here
Israeli prisons and detention camps designed to torture Palestinian detainees here
Torture testimonies that Netanyahu and US leaders do not want people to know here
Video: Amputee doctor in Gaza carries on hospital work despite injury here
Gaza: The modern Colosseum of humanity’s dark legacy here
'Cutting the Head Off 200 Organizations': Inside Israel's War on NGOs That Aid Palestinians here
'Secretary of genocide': US' Blinken protested at Atlantic Council address here
Cuba joins South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at ICJ here
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)