NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT IMPLICATED IN THE SLAUGHTER OF INNOCENT PALESTINIANS

By supporting the American and British missile attacks on Yemen, the New Zealand Government is supporting the continued slaughter of innocent men, women and children in Gaza.

WHILE THE New Zealand government has, on several occasions, expressed its 'concern' about the rising number of deaths and casualties in Gaza, it has, in reality, been shedding crocodile tears for the Palestinian people. In practice, it has done little else but follow the lead of the United States. With the Biden administration resolutely opposed to a ceasefire in Gaza, the New Zealand Government has only been prepared to call for 'steps' to be taken toward a ceasefire. It has been a meaningless gesture but, with a nod and a wink, Chris Luxon has told Genocide Joe that New Zealand knows which side its bread is buttered.

It came as no great surprise then, that New Zealand joined other western governments in not supporting South Africa's genocide case against Israel in the International Court of Justice. With the United States declaring its hostility to South Africa's case, there was never the remotest possibility that the New Zealand Government would show some moral courage and break rank. New Zealand has truly become a servile client state of the crumbling American Empire. It's an irony that the New Zealand Government is made up of three parties that campaigned on the basis of 'getting our country back'. But, apparently, not from the United States.

Now, in a further deference to the United States, Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters and Defence Minister Judith Collins have expressed New Zealand's support for strikes by the United States and United Kingdom against Houthi targets in Yemen. 

Peters has claimed that the '... strikes support international security and trade ... Supply chain disruptions mean higher costs for NZ consumers & delays getting goods to and from markets in Europe, the Middle East & North Africa."  But what he neglects to say is that this all about protecting shipping that is heading to Israel. It is little more than supporting Israel's ability to continue to wage a genocidal war against the Palestinian people.

And, as Lebanon-based commentator Rania Khalek has noted: 'Yemen isn’t even targeting ships destined for New Zealand, this makes no sense! Also, you’re cool with bombing people over … shipping delays to customers??? Late-stage capitalism is as embarrassing as it is barbaric.'

When Israel first attacked Gaza, the Houthi declared their support for the Palestinian people trapped in the enclave. The Houthi have repeatedly said that the attacks on shipping will continue until there is a ceasefire in Gaza. The Biden administration has got it wrong if it thinks it can bomb the Houthi into submission. Instead, the risk of a full-scale regional war has never been greater.

As one American commentator has put it, 'Biden has now bombed Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, all to ensure Israel can continue slaughtering Palestinian women and children.' And the New Zealand Government, in continuing to support the Biden Administration, is implicated in the slaughter.