New Zealand Must Condemn Israel’s Brutal Crimes
The Wellington Palestine Group has called on the New Zealand government to summon the Israeli ambassador for a reprimand
over the Israeli commando raid on the humanitarian flotilla sailing for Gaza.
Spokesperson, Omar Hamed, says it's convenient that Israel has just appointed a new ambassador to Wellington.
"We protested at the time Mr Tzur arrived here, but now he's here, he needs dragging along The Terrace to get a dressing
down at parliament for an act of international piracy", Mr Hamed says.
"The flotilla was still on the high seas on a mercy mission to bring vital supplies to the civilian population of
besieged Gaza. The Gaza Palestinians are mostly refugees from Israeli occupation and have endured years of suffering
under a brutal Israeli blockade. Now, when a shipload of good Samaritans try to help, the Israelis send their commandos
out to murder the good Samaritans."
Mr Hamed says the Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, may historically be a friend of Israel. But Mr Hamed says Israel's
illegal and brutal attacks on defenseless humanitarians have outraged even Israel's friends.
Mr Hamed says calling in an ambassador for a reprimand is a well established diplomatic action, and cited the New
Zealand government calling in the French ambassador every time the French conducted a nuclear bomb test in the Pacific,
as an example.
Mr Hamed says Murray McCully should join the rest of the international community and demand that the Israeli ambassador
convey a message that Israel must lift its siege on Gaza and cease illegal settlement building elsewhere in occupied
Palestinian territory.
ENDS