PSNA Newsletter No 37 - January 19, 2021
19 January 2021
Newsletter No 37
Kia ora
A “moment of moral clarity” in Israel
The New Year began with a political bang when the largest and most respected Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, released a report on 12 January which clearly and unambiguously labels the situation in Israel/Palestine as apartheid.
The landmark report entitled “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid” lays bare the reality of life across the entire area of historic Palestine – all of which is occupied and/or controlled by Israel.
You can read the short eight-page report at the link above and the opinion piece from B’Tselem Executive Director, Hagai El-Ad, here.
B’Tselem calls this a “moment of moral clarity”
In five minutes: how can you help amplify the impact of this critically important report?
Read the eight-page report at the link above.
Put links to the report on social media and encourage friends and family to read it and
Send a note to the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs drawing their attention to this report and insisting New Zealand get off the fence, publicly condemn Israel’s apartheid policies and take action to bring effective pressure on Israel just as New Zealand did against South African apartheid.
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden
Here is a draft note you could email to j.ardern@ministers.govt.nz and n.mahuta@ministers.govt.nz – or you can write your own note – and copy in your local MP.
Kia ora Ms Ardern and Ms Mahuta,
A moment of moral clarity in Israel/Palestine
Last week the largest and most respected Israeli human rights group, B’Tselem, released a report which clearly and unambiguously labelled the situation in Israel/Palestine as apartheid.
The landmark report entitled “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid” lays bare the reality of life across the entire area of historic Palestine – all of which is occupied and/or controlled by Israel.
The Executive Director of B’Tselem calls this a “moment of moral clarity”. I agree.
It is high time the New Zealand government also recognised Israeli policies as “apartheid” and took steps to isolate Israel just as New Zealand governments did to isolate South Africa in the 1970s and 1980s.
Just as staying silent on apartheid in South Africa was unacceptable then, so is staying silent on apartheid in Israel/Palestine today.
There will be those who try to smear criticism of Israel as anti-semitic. We expect the New Zealand government to have the political leadership and courage to face down such abusive behaviour and stand with the people of Palestine for self-determination and human rights.
Please respond quickly to my request for you to take meaningful action on this important report.
Regards,
(Name)
Waitangi 2021
We are planning a presence with a stall, banners, flags, leaflets etc at Waitangi this year on 5th and 6th February. We are working with the Palestinian community to draw the links between the Maori struggle against colonialism and for “tino rangatiratanga” with the Palestinian struggle for self-determination. Colonialism is the common factor facing the indigenous people of Palestine and Maori in Aotearoa.
We are co-ordinating transport and accommodation from Auckland Can you come to help at the stall? If so please email secretary@PSNA.NZ
PSNA National Meeting – 27/28 March in Auckland
We are planning our first post-Covid face-to-face national meeting in Auckland on the weekend of 27/28 March. We hope all centres around the country will be able to be represented at the meeting and we can help with travel expenses for flights etc if necessary. Please don’t let the cost be a barrier to coming. Book your travel now to keep the cost down. (We will be starting around 9am on Saturday and will finish before 1pm on Sunday) Auckland supporters will be providing billeted accommodation. It’s going to be an important, interesting and stimulating event. We are looking forward to meeting up with you all. Please email secretary@PSNA.nz to register for catering purposes.
We will have details of the venue in the next newsletter.
Vaccinations for Covid 19 in Israel and Palestine
Here is a letter we sent to Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta on 6 January regarding Covid 19 in Israel and Palestine. The letter is self-explanatory. At the time of this newsletter, we have not received a response.
Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta
6 January 2021
Ms Nanaia Mahuta
Minister of Foreign Affairs
Parliament Buildings
Wellington
Tēnā koe Nanaia,
Urgent request for the government to speak out against Israel’s medical apartheid
We are requesting the government speak out urgently and demand Israel abandon its apartheid medical practices and provide Covid 19 vaccinations for Palestinians living under Israeli occupation.
Israel has proudly touted itself as one of the first countries to begin widespread vaccination of its population but has specifically excluded Palestinians living under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza strip from its vaccination program.
Nine million Israelis are in line to receive the vaccination, but five million Palestinians are being excluded.
This is medical apartheid. It is racist, immoral and inhuman.
In a terrible irony, Palestinians living under Israeli occupation in the West Bank and Gaza are refused vaccination while hundreds of thousands of Israeli settlers living illegally on Palestinian land are receiving vaccinations now.
Under international law Israel is responsible for the health and well-being of the people living under its occupation. However, Israel is turning a blind eye to these legal and moral responsibilities.
As a signatory to the Fourth Geneva Convention – which deals with the responsibilities of an occupying power to look after the health and well-being of occupied people – it is New Zealand’s responsibility to speak out quickly, strongly and publicly.
Silence is not an option.
We look forward to your response.
Nā,
John Minto
Spokesperson
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
Racism, lies and distortions
The pro-Israeli lobby, headed by the New Zealand Jewish Council and the Israel Institute, are very quick to react to any criticism of Israel with false smears of anti-Semitism.
They outdid themselves earlier in January when Green MP Golriz Ghahraman tweeted a report from Jewish Voices for Peace which called out the racism in Israel’s vaccination programme (see above the PSNA letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs)
In this Newshub report Jewish Council spokesperson Juliet Moses was reported saying "This canard that Israel is withholding the vaccine from Palestinians invokes the disgusting centuries-old anti-Semitic trope that Jewish people spread disease” Really! She honestly can’t believe that! Surely she is not so stupid!
This shows just how desperate the Israeli lobby are to find anti-Semitism in any criticism of Israel’s racist policies. Their priority is to defend Israel by smearing its critics with false claims of anti-Semitism.
Juliet Moses’ ridiculous statement was challenged by Martyn Bradbury here and by Alternative Jewish Voices here.
Merchandise for Sale
Kaffiyeh 110 x 110 $44 + postage
For any of these email bronwensummers@gmail.com or phone 03 55 00 132 txt 0220850161
Alternatively, you can buy merchandise including T-shirts from our website
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
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)
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 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)