NEW ZEALAND LAWYERS CALL FOR GOVERNMENT ACTION AGAINST ISRAEL

Ninety-five New Zealand lawyers, including nine King’s Counsel, have called on the Government to sanction Israel. 

POPULAR PRESSURE is growing on the New Zealand Government to take action against Israel and its continuing genocidal assault on Gaza.

A fortnight ago, the Council of Trade Unions, representing some 380,000 workers, urged the Government to sanction Israel.

In a letter to Winston Peters, CTU President Richard Wagstaff wrote:

'For too long, the international community has allowed the state of Israel to act with impunity. It is now very clearly engaged in genocide and ethnic cleansing in Gaza. All efforts must be made to put diplomatic and economic pressure on Israel to end this murderous campaign.'

This week, seventy-nine lawyers have urged the Government to immediately take action against Israel. In a press statement they urge the Government 'to consider a stronger response including to condemn Israel’s unlawful presence in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, to review immediately all diplomatic and political and economic ties with Israel, and to go further in imposing sanctions after New Zealand imposed sanctions on two extremist Israeli politicians.'

One of the letter’s signatories, barrister Max Harris, says: This letter reflects rising concern among the general community about Israel’s breaches of international law.'

Whether the Government will take action against Israel is another matter altogether. The coalition government has tied New Zealand foreign policy to that of the United States, and neither Prime Minister Christopher Luxon nor Foreign Minister Winston Peters have shown any interest in contradicting American foreign policy in the Middle East. And that means backing Israel, regardless.

It is also worth noting that are a number of Zionists within and outside cabinet. They include the Act Party's David Seymour, Brooke van Velden and Simon Court as well as the Leader of the House Chris Bishop. They can be expected to oppose any moves to issue stronger sanctions against Israel.