New Zealand (or is it Aotearoa now?) is increasingly finding itself out of step with the rest of the Western World with regard to Freedom and Democracy.
The latest round of violence between the Hamas and Islamic Jihad terrorist organisation/armies and the state of Israel has sadly shown how New Zealand’s political elites have intentionally started transitioning their nation from a democratic Western First World country, rapidly moving instead towards the non aligned, second world grouping of autocratic nations.
In this latest crisis, the European Union and United States along with other western nations, while calling for restraint, calm and an easing of violence and tensions from both sides, have acknowledged Israel’s absolute and legitimate right to defend itself against what is clearly an outrageous and unprovoked military onslaught by terrorist entities, against the civilian population of a recognised independent and sovereign nation.
A number of nations, Germany, Austria and Slovenia amongst others have even hoisted the Israeli flag above public buildings in their capitals in solidarity with the Israeli people.
Most of the Sunni Arab world has condemned Israel and called for a cessation in hostilities, but their condemnation has been muted compared to belligerent statements made during past conflicts between the parties.
When examining the statement of New Zealand Foreign Minister Nanaia Mahuta at the beginning of the conflict, Dr Cumin of the Israel Institute of NZ points out that while she is “deeply concerned about the deteriorating situation in Jerusalem and Gaza” and calls for “rapid de-escalation from Israel and Palestine”, she goes on to only specifically condemn Israel, calling on the Jewish State to “cease demolitions and evictions and for both sides to halt steps which undermine prospects for a two-state solution”. Now she is clearly referring to the Sheik Jarrach stand off (the Pali ‘cause celebre’ of the moment), which Hamas claims was a major contributing factor leading to the launch of thousands of missiles at Israel. This is a matter before the High Court of Israel.
Does this mean that the New Zealand government is now passing moral sentence and judgement on an independent High Court decision of a supposedly friendly nation, a decision that pertains to a dispute between a property owner and its tenants?
Is Mahuta even aware that the property in question, the ‘Tomb of Simon the Righteous’ – a holy site for Jews – was purchased jointly in 1875 by the Ashkenazi and Sephardi communities of Jerusalem from the Ottoman Sultan because of its significance to the Jewish people? Registered in Ottoman land registries by its Jewish owners and again in British Palestine land registries, but never registered by anyone in Jordanian land registries.
The property was developed above the subterranean Tomb and housed Yemenite Jews from the 1880s until 1948 when all Jews were evicted by the Jordanian forces from the eastern parts of Jerusalem. After 1967 the owners lodged a claim in the Jerusalem District Court claiming their property rights. The claim was granted. The tenants acknowledged, and signed in Israeli court papers in 1973, that they had no legal ownership proof. They acknowledged in writing the ownership rights of the Jewish owners and that they would pay rent to the owners in return for being allowed to stay in the properties.
They never paid the rent and the issue bounced around the courts for 40 plus years. While the High Court has been trying to get the parties to come to an agreement, it is clear that none will be reached and that the court will have no choice but to evict the tenants. Everyone knows what the outcome will be – except for New Zealand’s foreign minister!
Why are her advisers at NZ MFAT so driven by post modern narratives, that they are unable to give basic factual advice to the minister? Or are Mahuta’s advisers just anti-Zionists with no regard or empathy for Jewish rights? Perhaps the Minister herself has negative views of both Israel and Jews in general?
It doesn’t end here as the Right Honourable Minister has persisted in ignoring ‘rock-solid verifiable facts’ in favour of an ideological and agenda-driven narrative.
On the fifteenth of this month, two days ago Mahuta summoned the Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand for a ‘dressing down’. She said “The growing death toll and the large numbers of casualties, including children, from Israeli airstrikes and Gazan rockets, is unacceptable.” What! No concern expressed regarding the violation of Israeli sovereignty, the right of self-defence, Palestinian targeting of civilian areas and only civilian areas, Palestinians using their own citizens as human shields?
“Senior officials met with the Israeli Ambassador yesterday. Officials underlined the concerning loss of life and strongly urged Israel to de-escalate to prevent the prospect of a widening conflict.” They also raised their concern at the continued violation of international law and forced evictions occurring in East Jerusalem.
Again Mahuta lays everything at the feet of Israel. No Palestinian responsibility for any act or action. Only Israel is responsible.
The fact that Israel exists is apparently reason enough to riot and commit acts of war.
- PALESTINIAN WAR CRIMES x 3,000 Rockets on civilian targets (to date)
- PALESTINIAN WAR CRIMES in firing those rockets from within civilian areas.
Mahuta and Aotearoa/New Zealand have no problem with this, as long as Israel just cuts it out and cuts it out now. New Zealand wags its big stick of what? Economic sanctions? It can’t exactly threaten Israel with its non-existent airforce or its non-army (only eight thousand soldiers). Maybe New Zealand will not be Israel’s friend anymore and will vote against it with every vote at any and every international forum, oh wait…they already do that.
Mahuta and Ardern’s message to Israel is that Israel is to blame for everything simply because of the fact that it has the chutzpah to continue existing.
Shame on New Zealand/Aotearoa, shame on Mahuta and shame on Ardern. Mahuta, instead of making Maori proud, is bringing shame in big dollops upon the Maori people.
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