PSNA Newsletter No 83 - November 8 2022
8 Whiringa-ā-rangi 2022
8 November 2022
Newsletter No 83
Kia ora koutou,
Israeli elections
Israel’s shift to the fascist right is not surprising. There’s been a well-established rightward trend over recent decades – particularly with the massive expansion of illegal Israeli settlements on Palestinian land.
These racist setters are now on the front line of ethnic cleansing of the indigenous people of Palestine. Feel free to share the poster of the three racists on social media.
End Israel's travel discrimination against Palestinian New Zealanders
Last month the apartheid government of Israel passed new regulations which discriminate against New Zealanders on the basis of their national origin. Most New Zealanders will be able to continue to travel to the occupied West Bank but most Palestinian New Zealanders are effectively barred from doing so.
New Zealand citizens with dual citizenship with any of five countries, including Jordan (about 60% of Jordan’s population is of Palestinian origin), will not be allowed to visit the occupied West Bank under any circumstances, while other New Zealanders will still be able to. Many Palestinians here have joint Jordanian/New Zealand citizenship, for example, and have relatives living in the West Bank which they will no longer be able to visit.
This is part of Israel’s tightening of control over Palestinians; making their lives so miserable that many will leave. It is deeply racist – another expression of the apartheid discrimination under which all Palestinians, from the river to the sea, suffer from Israel’s racist regime.
The New Zealand government must:
Demand Israel end its discrimination against Palestinian New Zealanders with joint citizenship who want to travel to the West Bank.
Abandon the visa-free travel arrangement for Israelis wanting to come to New Zealand until the same visa-free opportunities are in place for Palestinians, wherever they live.
Two things you can do now with just a few clicks…
Sign the petition organised by PACC (Palestinians in Aotearoa Co-ordinating Committee)
Copy and paste this letter to the Prime Minister
Kia ora Ms Ardern,
Please act immediately to stop Israel’s discrimination against Palestinian New Zealanders with joint citizenship with any of five countries (Jordan, Egypt, Morocco, Bahrain and South Sudan) These Palestinian New Zealanders will no longer be able to travel to the occupied West Bank where many have relatives and extended families while other New Zealanders will not face the same restrictions.
This is just another example of the race-based discrimination against Palestinians under Israel’s apartheid laws but one which has a direct bearing on Palestinian New Zealanders. It also draws attention to New Zealand policy discriminating against Palestinians whereby we have visa-free travel for Israelis to this country but NOT for Palestinians.
I want you to:
1. Demand Israel end its discrimination against Palestinian New Zealanders with joint citizenship who want to travel to the West Bank
2. Abandon the visa-free travel arrangement for Israelis wanting to come to New Zealand until the same visa-free opportunities are in place for Palestinians, wherever they live
Please get back to me without unnecessary delay.
Nā,
<Your name>
<Your city>
United Nations International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people – 29 November
Planning is underway for events around the country to mark this day – more details in the next newsletter.
In the meantime the Palestine Youth Association in Auckland are holding an event Saturday 3 December to mark the day.
The PYA website is here and the PYA Facebook event is here.
In Christchurch, Palestine solidarity supporters will gather at the Bridge of Remembrance at 12 noon on Saturday 26th November for a rally and distribution of leaflets.
In Auckland, Palestine Solidarity supporters will gather at 2:00 pm on Saturday 3rd December for a rally and distribution of leaflets. Venue to be confirmed.
Gideon Levy speaks on “The Way Forward” – Saturday 12 November
World-renowned Israeli journalist Gideon Levy will speak on the next MLN (Movement for the Liberation from Nakba) online forum on Saturday 12 November in the evening – put it in your diary now. More details will be in the next newsletter.
Renowned Israeli historian Professor Ilan Pappe will participate as a respondent.
You can link to the webinar here
Digital Webinar: Unrooting the Jewish National Fund
The Jewish National Fund (JNF) owns the land where over half the population of Israel lives. It is best known around the world for its forestation, tree planting, and environmental conservation efforts. This ethical image is contrasted by the central role the JNF plays in the ongoing dispossession of Palestinians on both sides of the Green Line.
Join the Green Olive Collective in conversation with human rights activists Maya Rosen and Daniel Roth, whose recent report sheds light on the greenwashing tactics of the JNF and the way its deliberately opaque structure facilitates the expropriation of Palestinian land for Jewish settlement.
Monday November 21st 7am (NZ time) Register here for the digital webinar.
Message and Petition from Friends of Hebron
Dear Friends,
The Israeli army showed up and closed out community center! The house belongs to Human Rights Defender Issa Amro, who is now left alone and isolated while under threat from the nearby Israeli settlement and army base. Petition the US State Department to act now!
While Americans were celebrating Halloween, Israeli soldiers enforced a special closed military zone order onto Issa's house, which doubles as the Youth Against Settlements (YAS) center.
A closed military zone order (CMZ) means that no one can enter—no journalists, volunteers, family members, or medical personnel. Issa is left alone, isolated, and fears for his safety. He has already received multiple death threats from settlers and soldiers.
As well as signing the petition you can also make a donation here.
Three events organised by the Australian Friends of Palestine Association
1 Edward Said Memorial Lecture
2 Palestine Solidarity Conference in Australia
Australia Palestine Advocacy Network (APAN) invites you to join our 2023 Solidarity Conference!
For three days, we will be holding various workshops centred on the following:
* Palestinian narratives, demands and non-negotiables
* Building skillsets to better organise in AUS and NZ, and
* Planning for an International Day of Action for the 75th Nakba
Pricing:
Online: $20 AUD
In-person: $50 - 150 AUD
Register today to get updates on workshops that will be made available!
APAN Palestine Solidarity Conference, 2023 - building collective resistance
Cost AUS $50 to $150. Register here.
3 Study Tours to Palestine in July 2023
Express interest here.
Bequest from Nelson supporter Richard Tidmarsh
Richard Tidmarsh died on 17 October after a short illness. He was a regular public supporter of the Palestinian struggle for self-determination and human rights in Nelson and is remembered fondly by those who knew him.
Very generously Richard has left money in his will for the “purposes and aims of the Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa”. We won’t receive the bequest for several months but wanted to acknowledge this generous gift towards the struggle.
Moe mai rā e Richard.
United Nations! Investigate and dismantle Israeli apartheid!
In previous newsletters we asked supporters to send a note to the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister asking the Aotearoa New Zealand government to support a United Nations investigation into Israeli apartheid. If you missed the chance you can find the letter to send here.
Every communication to the government on this counts.
Important stories from the Web
Andrew Lim PhD thesis on Palestine solidarity campaigns in Aotearoa/Australia here
Israeli election results: Netanyahu is stronger than ever and he is bringing the far right with him here
B’Tselem: Israel is not a democracy – this is apartheid here
From 2010: Netanyahu brags he deceived the US to destroy the Oslo Accords here
Witnessing the death of hope in Jerusalem here
Media runs with phony Berkeley story here
The challenges of food sovereignty in the occupied West Bank are political here
There is no hope and no future in Israeli apartheid politics here
The rebel priest standing up to the Catholic Church here
When donor pressure threatens to erase Palestine from academia here
Commission of Inquiry finds that the Israeli occupation is unlawful under international law here
Ibrahim al Nabulsi turns 19 in the grave here
ACLU petitions Supreme Court to overturn Arkansas anti-BDS law here
Amnesty calls for investigation into possible war crimes in Gaza here
Jewish activists discuss Jewish supremacy in Israeli policies here
Ali Qleibo on the United States embassy stealing his family’s land here
This is a really good discussion about “Jewish Supremacy” by four young Americans here
Our Vision for Liberation
This is an outstanding book which documents what liberation looks like from Palestinian viewpoints.
A book review by Christchurch-based Lois Griffiths is here
It is presented by outstanding Palestinian author and activist Ramzy Baroud (who toured Aotearoa New Zealand several years back) and renowned Israeli historian Ilan Pappe. It is a not-to-be-missed publication!
We have purchased 50 copies for PSNA supporters and we are selling these at $35 per copy to cover our costs. To get your copy simply deposit $35 in our bank account here:
Account name: PALESTINE SOLIDARITY NETWORK
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-00
And then email secretary@PSNA.nz with your address and we will get your copy in the mail! Looking forward to hearing from you!
Reminder: Dates for Palestine Solidarity in 2022
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
8/9 October PSNA National Meeting in Christchurch
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 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)
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)