Media release: A collective of non-Jewish and Jewish organisations…
We are a collective of organisations, non-Jewish and Jewish, that support Israel and the Jewish people. Between us we represent tens of thousands of New Zealanders.
We are responding to serious concerns raised by the Jewish community regarding threatening, intimidating and hateful online behaviour directed at Jewish New Zealanders—concerns that have also been acknowledged by the New Zealand Police.
We have further concerns about the harassment, intimidation and violence towards Israel supporters and Israeli travellers in New Zealand. At least one Israeli has recently been hospitalized with serious injuries in an unprovoked attack by a pro-Palestinian perpetrator screaming “dirty Jew”.
We recognise that people hold strong opinions about the Israel-Gaza war and we accept their right to criticise the Israeli government. We are concerned that much of the discourse in this country is ill-informed, misguided, vitriolic and fuels hatred.
It is our view that much of the media in this country has failed to offer a balanced perspective of the conflict. Indeed, for months we were served a daily diet of Hamas controlled reports and statistics, which served only to demonise Israel. When accusations against Israel were shown to be false, there was little attempt to correct the errors. The damage had already been done.
Irresponsible politicians have contributed to the toxic atmosphere by chanting “from the river to the sea” and “globalise the intifada”, statements widely understood to call for the annihilation of Israel.
New Zealand tolerates a Free Palestine political Party which seeks to erase Israel’s existence as a specifically Jewish nation-state. They received $82,000 public funding for election broadcasting. Its leader, Paul Hopkinson, has openly celebrated 7 October as a victory for Palestinian resistance.
On 7 October 2023, Hamas-led terrorists invaded southern Israel, massacred young people attending a music festival, slaughtered families in their homes, burnt children, committed beheadings, horrific acts of sexual violence, mutilation, and brutality. 1,200 people were killed, and 251 people were taken hostage in the deadliest single day for Jews since the Holocaust. It is astonishing that in a civilised society such an event could be celebrated as a victory.
Meanwhile, veteran Palestinian protestor John Minto has published photographs of Israelis travelling in this country, encouraging his followers to harass them.
New Zealanders have observed the violent protests in France, with Palestinian flags at the center and are asking, could this happen here? The current trajectory of hostility, propaganda and lack of informed debate does not bode well for our own nation.
We call on politicians to act responsibly and refrain from using the Gaza conflict as a political prop.
We call on the media to return to journalism, to stop propagating propaganda and report both sides of the story.
We call on the police to take threats of intimidation, harassment and violence seriously and act decisively against perpetrators.
We are a nation known for hospitality and tolerance and yet many of our Jewish citizens and Israeli travellers feel unsafe. Many Jewish people do not feel free to express their identity openly. This is not who we are. We call on Kiwis to stand by our Jewish friends and neighbours, and to reject hatred and bigotry.
Dr Sheree Trotter, Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem
Brad Haami, Te Kahui Oko
Teurikore Lazarus, Te Oriwa Kotahi
Bryce Turner, Christians for Israel
David Cumin, Israel Institute of NZ
Nigel Woodley, For The Protection of Zion, Coalition of Ministers
Yifat Goddard, Ashley Church, Joanna Moss, Israel New Zealand Network
Neville Baker, Zionist Federation New Zealand
Rob Berg, Jewish National Fund
Lucy Rogers, NZ Against Hamas
Derek McDowell, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem NZ
Todd and Juliet Vincent, International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Whangarei
Beth Mather, Bridges for Peace
Tony Kan, New Zealand Friends of Israel
Dr Reza Farhour, Iranian Community of New Zealand
Arezou Malihi, Iranian Monarchists Association, Auckland, New Zealand
New Zealand Jewish Medical Association
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