PSNA Newsletter No 26 - July 7 2020
7 July 2020
Newsletter No 26
Kia ora PSNA Supporter
Congratulations
to everyone around the country who took part on the anti-annexation rallies last weekend. It was our most ambitious national day of action so far and was a great success.
We are building our strength and credibility with the public, the media and local politicians.
We had events in nine centres around the country with a lot of energy and enthusiasm from supporters everywhere.
In Auckland around 200 people joined the rally in Aotea Square. Before the rallies
Before the rallies Christchurch Central Labour MP Duncan Webb posted this video supporting the rallies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEeTyzMnUpk
Duncan has been consistently speaking out in support of Palestinian human rights, despite some childish attacks from extremist Israeli supporters. Thank you Duncan.
Meanwhile its marvellous to have strong, assertive Jewish voices joining the debate in favour of Palestinian human rights. Here is the letter from Sue Berman published as the lead letter in Wellington’s Dompost on 1 July.
This report on Stuff gave details of the rallies and the reasons behind the National Day of Action.
The rallies around the country Here are some pictures from around the country.
Dunedin
About 30 people gathered near the Art Gallery on a freezing Dunedin afternoon. Great reactions from passers-by included a woman taking a pile of leaflets for her workplace and an archaeologist upset by the destruction of Palestinian history to be replaced by a twisted narrative being created to fit Israeli propaganda. Many new signups to the PSNA mailing list.
Christchurch
Just over 100 people gathered at the Bridge of Remembrance under the word “Palestine” carved in stone to recall a site of New Zealand military service which Israel has been trying to erase for over 70 years. A march was followed by street theatre enacting the eviction of a Palestinian family and destruction of their home – only to be reversed as the crowd (representing the international community) joined together to “liberate” the home. This street theatre video is here.
Nelson
“We flew the Palestinian a flag high in Nelson yesterday. We were protesting about this crazy plan supported by Donald Trump to illegally Annex Palestinian land on the West Bank. Had a really good turnout of people, it was a great event”
Wellington
More than 80 people turned up to support the Rally against Israeli Land theft organised by PSNA in the Cuba Mall. It was a pity that the New Zealand Government couldn’t speak up stronger for Palestinian Human Rights in the Occupied Palestinian territories.
New Plymouth
Given just two days, Kate from New Plymouth organised the local rally from a standing start. This was the final region to come on board for the Nationwide rally taking the total number of regions holding a rally to 9.
Palmerston North
The local Manawatu Standard newspaper reported the Palmerston North rally here. It’s an excellent report which includes the voice of a Palestinian family recently moved to Palmerston North who took part in the rally.
Napier
Our committee member from Invercargill joined in with people from Aotearoa Standing with Palestine to hold their rally in Napier.
Hamilton
A spirited crowd gathered to raise Palestinian flags at a busy Hamilton intersection. Great support from locals.
Auckland
About 200 participants at the Auckland rally today - spirited support for about eight positive speakers (The photo shows Mike Treen of Unite Union addressing the crowd). Great mihi and waiata from Ngāti Whātua representatives.
Appeal to help Palestinians prepare cases of war crimes to take to the International Criminal Court.
We are continuing to make progress towards our target of NZ$4,000 for the Gaza Centre for Human Rights to employ two additional people to collect and prepare evidence of Israeli war crimes for the International Criminal Court. Can you help us reach this target?
The GCHR is the group which employs specialist investigator New Zealander Julie Webb-Pullman. In the last three months however two temporary staff working with Julie have had their promised funding source dry up through Covid 19 disruption and we need the NZ$4,000 to bridge the gap and keep the work moving forward.
At our last national committee meeting we met online with the two Palestinian women doing this work in very difficult circumstances and we were deeply impressed with their energy and drive and obvious competency for the work.
Please donate if you can and put GCHR (Gaza Center for Human Rights) in the Reference field. Thanking you in anticipation…
Account name: PALESTINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-02
Reference: GCHR
An invitation from Palestinian journalist and author Tuma Hazou for Auckland and the Far North…
I have the pleasure of inviting you to the Launch of my book Dances with Death. In it I recount my many 'brushes with death' reporting on hostilities in the turbulent Middle East. The on-going conflicts and upheavals in the region have their roots in the infamous 1917 British Balfour Declaration committing Britain to set up in Palestine a national state for the Jews, ignoring the Muslim and Christian majority population.
The book ends with an overview of the prevailing dire consequences of the 1967 June War.
Addendums to the book add further substance to the personal traumatic narrative and related historical facts.
The digital flyer above provides more details on the book and author
Launch dates:
Sunday 5th July at 2 pm, at the Whangaparaoa Library, 9 Main St, Whangaparaoa, North Shore
And
Tuesday 14th July, 6pm at the Women's Bookshop, 105 Ponsonby Rd.
Still Lives – Marilyn Garson
Canadian-Kiwi Marilyn writes of her experiences working in GAZA under the Israeli blockade from 2011 to 2015. This is a book which brings to life the horrific brutality of the 2014 Israeli invasion of Gaza which left over 300 killed – including over 500 children. Marilyn documented her experiences as she worked through this horror. It is a MUST READ.
You can purchase this from your local bookshop or order your eBook here or order a physical copy at www.marilyngarson.com
Looking ahead – Palestinian political prisoners
PSNA is working on another on-line rally focusing on Israel’s brutality towards Palestinians imprisoned, often without trial (including Palestinian children). The tentative date is Sunday 26 July. More details in the next newsletter.
Don’t be tricked!
In August 2002 former Israeli Minister of Education Shulamit Aloni was interviewed on the radio and television program Democracy Now. When she was asked why people in the US were labelled anti-Semitic when they criticise Israel she said –
“Well, it’s a trick, we always use it. When from Europe somebody is criticizing Israel, then we bring up the Holocaust. When in this country (the US) people are criticizing Israel, then they are anti-Semitic…..it’s very easy to blame people who criticize certain acts of the Israeli government as anti-Semitic, and to bring up the Holocaust, and the suffering of the Jewish people, and that is to justify everything we do to the Palestinians.”
The late Shalomit Aloni
In New Zealand and other Western countries “the trick” is used to silence criticism of Israel.
People such as newspaper editors, journalists, cartoonists and members of parliament are intensely pressured whenever they speak out against Israel’s brutal military occupation and apartheid policies towards Palestinians.
In New Zealand the pressure comes from groups like the Jewish Council, the Israel Institute, the Israel Friendship Group in parliament, the Israeli embassy and Christian Zionist supporters. Pressure from “the trick” helps silence criticism and sometimes results in otherwise good people making excuses for Israel’s murderous policies and blaming the Palestinian victims.
Don’t be silenced!
Don’t be tricked!
New Merchandise
T shirt Free Palestine End Israeli Occupation medium size only $22
Kaffiyeh 110 x 110 $44 + postage
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 Networt
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-00
Or Pay Pal account: admin@palestinesolidaritynz.net
We are happy to provide a receipt upon request (however, we are not a registered charity so this is not tax-deductible)
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 monthly Rallies - In Auckland at 2.00 pm on the first Saturday of every month. Please consider doing the same in your community. Contact mailto:admin@palestinesolidaritynz.net?subject=Flags and Banners 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: http://PalestineSolidarityNZ.net/index.html
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/671376706283605/
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network email: admin@PalestineSolidarityNZ.net
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)
Regional Branches and Affiliates
Regional
Bay of Islands PSNA Bay of Islands (Email)
Whangarei PSNA Whangarei (Facebook)
Auckland PSNA 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 PSNA Palmerston North (Email)
New Plymouth PSNA New Plymouth (Email)
Wellington Wellington Palestine (Website)
Nelson Te Tau Ihu (Nelson) Palestine (Facebook)
Christchurch PSNA Christchurch (Facebook)
Dunedin Dunedin for Justice in Palestine (Facebook)
Invercargill PSNA Invercargill (Email)