Advocacy – PSNA says Israeli Deputy Minister ‘sneaking into NZ’ this weekend while Israel resumes its genocide in Gaza

It seems clear from media reports that Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskell is visiting Auckland this weekend as part of a trip to strengthen ties with New Zealand and other Pacific countries.

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa Co-chair Maher Nazal says he would expect Foreign Minister Winston Peters to have had, or will be having, a secret meeting with Haskell.

“Haskell wouldn’t come to New Zealand unless she was having a meeting with
Peters. Otherwise, it would be a diplomatic snub. Haskell wouldn’t tolerate that, and Peters is most unlikely to snub Israel,” Nazzal says.

“But if he’s turned her down, we’d love to hear about it.”

“The visit is despite Haskell recently mocking Prime Minister, Chris Luxon, with some sarcastic comments that New Zealand’s worst enemies were cats and possums, when Luxon said her boss Benjamin Netanyahu had ‘lost the plot’.

“The trip is a ‘thank you’ visit for New Zealand refusing to recognise Palestine. Haskell had appointments with the governments of Fiji and Papua New Guinea earlier this week.”

“They are the only two countries in the world, other than the United States, which both voted in the United Nations last year against requiring Israel to leave the Occupied Palestinian Territory, and also have an embassy in Jerusalem. They are the greatest fans of Israel outside the United States.”

“Haskell is an agent of Israeli cruelty and depravity, and she has no legitimate
business here. Right now, Israel is using starvation as a weapon of war against
Palestinians and withholding New Zealand aid from the people of Gaza.

“Why would we put out the welcome mat for a representative of such a monstrous regime?” asks Nazzal.

“Haskell was recently interviewed by genocide-denier Sean Plunket on his radio show The Platform and said she’d like to visit New Zealand, saying, “We want to thank the New Zealand government for its support over the last two years.”

“That says it all. New Zealand has stood resolutely with a racist, apartheid regime, as it continues to commit genocide against the Palestinian people – two years and counting,” says Nazzal.

“Giving comfort and solace to a regime committing genocide is unconscionable.”

“We are sure the government has told Haskell to keep her visit quiet, because they will be embarrassed at her praise. But the Auckland Chamber of Commerce is happy to welcome her, given its public enthusiasm for extending New Zealand’s economic relations with apartheid-genocide Israel.”

Maher Nazzal
Co-Chair

Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa – PSNA