Source: MIL-OSI Submissions
Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
Despite the ceasefire coming into effect in Gaza, nationwide rallies and marches will take place tomorrow in 11 centres around Aotearoa New Zealand to maintain the momentum of support here and around the world for the Palestinian struggle.
Details of the protests are here
“With or without the ceasefire Palestinians continue to suffer from Israel’s racist, apartheid policies and brutal oppression” says PSNA National Chair John Minto.
“The protests tomorrow will again call for the New Zealand government to bring meaningful pressure on Israel rather than simply express sympathy for Palestinians”
“The government’s approach of tiptoeing around the issue to avoid false smears of anti-semitism from the pro-Israel lobby (who toss them around like confetti) is unprincipled and cowardly”
“We need concrete actions, based on international law and UN resolutions, to hold Israel to account”
“One such action is closing the Israeli embassy in Wellington. The David Lange-led Labour government of the 1980s put such pressure on the South African embassy over its propaganda against black South Africans that they closed their doors and left.
“This government must take the same approach to the Israeli embassy which peddles misinformation and lies about Palestine and Palestinians”
The protests tomorrow will be encouraging people to sign our petition on-line here to close the Israeli embassy.
Despite what the government says, the key to resolving the situation is not negotiations (the imbalance of power is too extreme for peace based on justice) but the implementation of sanctions against Israel to force it to abide by international law and United Nations resolutions.
We must take sides with oppressed Palestinians and against the racist Israeli state just as we took sides with black South Africans against the brutality of white South Africa under apartheid.
We encourage everyone to come out tomorrow and join the right side of history and stand with Palestinians against Israeli racism, apartheid and brutality.”
John Minto
National Chair
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
