PSNA Newsletter No 35 - November 17, 2020
17 November 2020
Newsletter No 35
Kia ora PSNA Supporter
What do the New Zealand and US elections mean for the Palestinian struggle for human rights. This newsletter has some indications and there are signs for optimism…
But first – what can you do to support the Palestinian struggle now – with just a few clicks….?
We are relaunching our appeal for funds to help Palestinians prepare cases of war crimes to take to the International Criminal Court.
Earlier this year we launched an appeal for $4000 for the Gaza Centre for Human Rights and we were delighted with the support you gave to this campaign and the critically important work of the Gaza Center for Human Rights. New Zealander Julie Webb-Pullman has been employed by the GCHR in recent years as a specialist investigator. She has overseen the employment of two additional local Palestinian investigators in recent months to undertake this critical work.
Two weeks ago we received this appeal from the Centre Manager, Yousef AlRantisi
“We, Gaza Center for Human Rights, would like to thank you for supporting our work in documenting the war crimes committed against us Palestinians by Israel. Because of your support so far, we have been able to document thousands of cases related to war crimes and deliberate targeting of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli army.
As you know, Julie Webb-Pullman has been working with us and supervising the center’s work since the beginning, insuring that the work quality is by the international standards. She also helped us hire both of our current translators, Zaynab and Yasmeen, who have been doing the very important job of translating the work to the English language. Without your support in covering their salaries for the past months, we wouldn’t have been able to hire them to do this very important job, and we thank you so much for that.
This is why we are very hopeful that you might lend us your support again. Currently, the Center is going through a lack in resources, and we are in need of assistance in covering the salaries of our employees”
PSNA has sent NZ$1,800 to this appeal and we will send any additional donations we receive from our supporters. Can you help?
Please donate if you can and put GCHR in the Reference field. Thanking you in anticipation…
Account name: PALESTINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-02
Christchurch protest against Israeli Ambassador Dr Gerberg
On the picket line in Christchurch last week before things warmed up. We gave Dr Gerberg a loud, vigorous reception when he arrived. He has been a staunch defender of Israel's racist policies towards Palestinians and the Israeli occupation of the entire area of historic Palestine.
Once the meeting started we moved to the side of the building and had a grand view of proceedings through big windows with no curtains.
The Friends of Israel Christchurch, which organised the meeting, reported on their website:
“The event was well attended but guests needed to listen carefully as we also attracted a gathering of protesters, who attempted to disrupt proceedings with loud megaphones”
We just had the one megaphone but the energy of the crowd with chanting etc meant we were a dominant presence on the night. Thanks to all those Christchurch supporters who came out.
This is the sort of reception any Israeli government representatives in Aotearoa should receive wherever they go.
UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
We have been working with the Palestinian Community of New Zealand to hold a solidarity event in Auckland on UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People.
The details of the event are:
UN International Day for Solidarity with the Palestinian People
Sunday, 29 November, 7pm
Western Springs Garden Community Hall, 956 Great North Road, Auckland
All welcome.
We have invited our new Minister of Foreign Affairs to speak at the event and are awaiting her response.
If you are in Auckland come along, if you are outside Auckland the event will be livestreamed. You will find details of this on the Facebook event site here.
What do the New Zealand and US elections mean for Palestine?
In New Zealand:
We don’t have an answer yet as to how the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta will approach Palestine.
New Minister of Foreign Affairs Nanaia Mahuta
However, PSNA National Chair John Minto wrote an opinion piece to indicate what we believe the new government’s priorities should be. It was printed in Wellington’s Dompost and Christchurch’s Press newspaper as well as on the Stuff website. The link to the piece is here but we are reproducing it in full below.
New directions needed in Foreign Affairs and Defence after New Zealand First indifference
Appointing Nanaia Mahuta as Foreign Minister and Peeni Henare in Defence is a welcome relief and brings fresh pairs of eyes to long-neglected issues.
In the previous term of government several important foreign policy issues took a back seat after Labour contracted out Foreign Affairs and Defence to New Zealand First. Winston Peters as Foreign Minister and Ron Mark as Defence Minister were left to run their portfolios unchallenged and Palestine, West Papua and Western Sahara were the biggest losers.
Winston Peters “marked time” on the Middle East. He stayed silent when Israeli soldiers shot dead hundreds of unarmed Palestinian protestors – many of them children – in the Great March of Return protests in Gaza. He refused to speak out against Israel’s racist Nation State law and only managed some tepid opposition to TRUMP/Israeli plans to annex vast areas of the Occupied Palestinian Territories earlier this year.
Ironically the previous National-led government showed stronger support for Palestine when it co-sponsored UN Security Council resolution 2334 which targeted illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
In the first 100 days of the new government New Zealand should finally join the right side of history and the majority of humanity by recognising the State of Palestine.
Secondly New Zealand should make its relations with Israel conditional on Israeli compliance with international law. This means insisting Israel end its brutal military occupation of Palestinian territories, revoke racist laws which discriminate against Palestinian Israelis and allow the right of return for Palestinian refugees.
It’s gone on too long. There is no more time for pious words.
Until Israel complies with international law New Zealand must suspend our bilateral agreements with Israel and prohibit the importation of Israeli products. We should also instruct the Superannuation Fund and ACC to disinvest from companies involved with Israel’s illegal settlements.
West Papuans have also been betrayed by New Zealand under Winston Peters. These are our close Pacific neighbours living under particularly cruel Indonesian military rule. We have stood by, turning a blind eye, just as we previously betrayed the people of East Timor. Nanaia Mahuta is well placed to work with other Pacific countries in bringing pressure to liberate West Papua.
Meanwhile the people of Western Sahara continue to be exploited by New Zealand. The Saharawi people of the area live under Moroccan occupation while their phosphate deposits are mined for sale overseas. And which is the last country in the world to import phosphate fertiliser stolen from the people of Western Sahara? – New Zealand! A shameful embarrassment which should be ended in the first 100 days.
In Defence it has been a similar story under New Zealand First. Minister of Defence Ron Mark visited Israel in January last year and the outcome was deeply embarrassing.
Not only did Mark meet with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and give an awful display of obsequiousness on New Zealand’s behalf but he visited Israel’s biggest weapons manufacturer, Elbit Systems, to check out the latest military equipment which has been “battle-tested” on Palestinians.
Ron Mark was apparently unaware that in 2012 the New Zealand Superfund withdrew its investments from Elbit Systems because the company was helping build the Israeli “security” wall (widely dubbed the “apartheid” wall) which the International Court of Justice declared illegal.
However, despite the stance taken by the Superfund and the ACC the Ministry of Defence has continued to purchase military equipment from Elbit Systems.
Ron Mark and the Defence Force were oblivious to any moral issues. Mark simply said the purchase of “niche” military equipment from Elbit Systems overrode other concerns.
New Zealand defence and foreign policy must have an ethical and moral basis which aligns with international law and United Nations resolutions.
We will be looking to our new ministers, Nanaia Mahuta and Peeni Henare, to do us proud where their predecessors failed.
ENDS
In the US:
Both new President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris are both strong supporters of Israel but the tide is turning against Israeli policies of racism and brutality in the US as well as around the world so the outcome is less clear.
Miko Peled
Jewish historian and writer Miko Peled has a thoughtful look at the new US administration here with more along a positive line here. Both pieces are well worth reading.
Restore Australian funding to the UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency)
The Australian government, under right-wing PM Scott Morrison, halved its funding for UNRWA – the agency responsible for supporting Palestinian refugees (New Zealand maintained its funding) after an international campaign of vile attacks from the pro-Israeli lobby.
Australian supporters are calling for the funding to be restored and have set up this petition which we can all sign.
More artwork from the frontline of the struggle
In our last newsletter we reproduced some marvellous artwork from Palestinian Artist Samar Ghattas who is happy to share her work with people in New Zealand.
Here in another stunning piece from Samar.
Detaining and brutalising Palestinian Children
Again, in this newsletter we have details of the next two screenings of the stunning film “Imprisoning a Generation”. The poster below refers to details of the Christchurch screening:
And the details for the Dunedin screening of the film are:
7pm, Wednesday 25 November,
Archway 2 Lecture Theatre, University of Otago
(More information from Brandon Johnstone brandon.johnstone@gmail.com Ph 0274628339)
Merchandise for sale
2021 Palestine calendars for sale here
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 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)
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 PSNA Wellington (Email)
Nelson Te Tau Ihu (Nelson) Palestine (Facebook)
Christchurch PSNA Christchurch (Facebook)
Dunedin Dunedin for Justice in Palestine (Facebook)
Invercargill PSNA Invercargill (Email)