The love and hate for Israel shown in an hour

Earlier this month on Saturday 2 November 2019, I, along with 2 friends from the Israeli community in New Zealand, went to show our support as Jews and Israelis with the Kurdish people following their betrayal by President Trump and the subsequent attack on them by Turkey.

Being the first of our group to arrive at Aoetea Square in Auckland, I went up to the organisers, explained who I was, and that members of the Jewish/ Israeli community were coming down to show solidarity with the Kurdish plight, and would it be ok to wave Israeli flags?

I didn’t want to make any assumptions that this would be acceptable to the Kurdish community. I need not have been concerned. Not only was it ok, but the Kurdish community were so happy we were there that many wanted to be photographed next to us with our Israeli flags, or to take them to wave themselves.

All was not so peaceful and loving though with some members of the public who were not attending the solidarity rally…