The Balfour Declaration at the Ends of the Earth
A steady flow of Zionist emissaries made their way to New Zealand, seeking support for the ‘upbuilding of Palestine.’ The New Zealand Jewish community quickly gained a reputation for generosity in support of the cause. Enthusiasm for the Zionist project was not confined to the Jewish community however…
Chris Trotter’s dark reading of Israel’s dilemma
The false narrative that the conflict is about colonialist possession of territory, rather than Islamic-inspired rejectionism has done much to prolong the conflict. Israel has given up land for peace and made offers of peace that have been repeatedly rejected.
The Power of Bar Mitzvah
As I shared this amazing experience, a comment was made by a non-Jewish friend, that if we would practise bar mitzvah in New Zealand perhaps our youth would not be so troubled, insecure, lonely, lost and suicidal. Maybe it would help them to take ownership and responsibility for the lives in the safety net of loving adults, encouraging them to become mature and responsible young adults.
Not all Māori on board with Marama
The return of Jews to their ancient homeland has been an inspiring example for many indigenous peoples. Even though the Jewish people experienced expulsion and dispossession, they never abandoned their hope of return, and a small Jewish remnant kept ahi kā (continuous presence) in the land over many centuries of dispersal. The rebirth of Hebrew has been an inspiration for the revitalisation of Te Reo Māori in Aotearoa.
NZ’s UNSC Proposal: Even Handed or Empty Handed?
The Palmer report found that the thousands of rockets launched by militant groups from Gaza were indeed a real threat to Israel’s security. Stopping these violent acts was seen as an ‘obvious’ and ‘a necessary step’ for Israel to take to protect her citizens.
ISIL: A Copycat of Israel?
‘New Zealand staunchly supports the existence of the State of Israel; and supports its right to defend that existence in accordance with international law; and we accept that security arrangements will be fundamental to any final agreement.’ Ambassador Jim McLay, Permanent Representative of NZ