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New Zealand–Palestine relations

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New Zealand-Palestine
Map indicating locations of New Zealand and Palestine

New Zealand
Palestine
Diplomatic mission
Embassy of New Zealand, Ankara, TurkeyGeneral Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific

New Zealand–Palestine relations refer to foreign relations between New Zealand and the State of Palestine. New Zealand does not recognise Palestine as a country.[1]

New Zealand supports a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestine dispute.[2][3]

History

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20th century

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During World War I, around 6000 New Zealand soldiers fought in the Sinai and Palestine campaign, a British campaign to drive the Ottoman Empire out of the Levant, leading to the establishment of British-controlled Mandatory Palestine in 1920.[4]

In 1975, New Zealand voted to designate permanent observer status to the Palestinian Liberation Organisation in the United Nations.[5] In 1988, the government of New Zealand recognized the Palestine Information Office as the official representative of the Palestinian Liberation Organization based in Canberra.[6] New Zealand's embassy in Turkey is responsible for Palestinian affairs.[6]

21st century

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In late November 2012, New Zealand voted in support of a resolution to grant the State of Palestine "non-member observer state" status in the United Nations. The New Zealand representative said that its vote was "consistent with its long-held support for the aspirations of the Palestinian people." New Zealand also reiterated Israel's right to exist in security and a two-state solution but maintained that recognition of Palestinian statehood was a separate issue.[7]

In 2018, New Zealand singer Lorde called off a tour of Israel following pressure from two Palestinian activists in New Zealand.[8] The activists were fined by a court in Israel for their actions which they refused to pay.[9]

In May 2021, the Green Party with the support of Te Pāti Māori introduced a resolution calling on New Zealand to recognise Palestine.[10] It failed as it was not supported by the Labour Party and ACT Party.[10][11]

Prior to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, the then governing New Zealand Labour Party had promised to establish diplomatic relations with Palestine if elected, but later walked back on that decision.[1][12] In April 2024, the opposition Labour called for New Zealand to recognise Palestinian statehood.[13]

In May 2024, New Zealand voted in favor of a resolution to enhance the Palestinian role in the United Nations. The resolution passed in the United Nations General Assembly with the support of 143 countries. New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said that New Zealand supported enhancing Palestine's status at the UN but reiterated that "this does not amount to recognition of Palestinian statehood."[14]

Israel–Hamas war

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The New Zealand government condemned the Hamas attack that led to the 2023 Israel–Hamas war and defended Israel's right to defend itself.[3][15] It called for a ceasefire and asked Israel to abide by international law.[16] New Zealand also announced NZ$10 million for Palestine and Israel.[3] Chris Hipkins, leader of the New Zealand Labour Party, called for a ceasefire while other parties did not.[17]

Pro-Palestinian protestors in New Zealand sprayed red paint on the United States consulate.[18] A pro-Israel rally led by Destiny Church clashed with pro-Palestinian protestors outside Parliament in December 2023.[19]

In late January 2024, New Zealand suspended its annual NZ$1 million aid contribution to UNRWA (the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East) following allegations that several UNRWA workers had participated in the 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel.[20] This followed a decision by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to review New Zealand's aid to UNRWA in light of the allegations.[21]

In late February 2024, Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters confirmed that the New Zealand Government had designated the entire Hamas organisation as a terrorist entity. Previous governments had only designated the military wing of Hamas as a terrorist organisation. In addition, the New Zealand Government banned several extremist Israeli settlers who had committed violence against Palestinians in the West Bank.[22]

According to Māori Television's Te Ao Māori News, New Zealand approved more visas for Israelis than Palestinians during the conflict.[23] In March 2024, New Zealand Arab Association spokesperson Katrina Mitchell Kouttab urged the Government to create a special humanitarian visa for Palestinians to leave Gaza similar to the humanitarian visa programme created in 2022 for Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine.[24]

In early June 2024, Foreign Minister Peters announced that New Zealand would resume its annual NZ$1 million funding to UNRWA.[25]

Diplomatic visits

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Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand, visited Ramallah in February 2010.[26]

In 2015, Dr Riad Malki, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Palestine, visited New Zealand.[2][27] He held meetings with Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand.[2] New Zealand drafted a resolution at the United Nations Security Council calling Israel to halt building illegal settlements in Palestinian territories.[2] Jim McLay was appointed the representative of New Zealand to the Palestinian Authority.[28]

Greg Lewis, New Zealand's Special Representative to Palestine, met Mohammad Shtayyeh, Prime Minister of Palestine, in Ramallah in August 2022.[29]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Milne, Jonathan (2023-10-08). "Gaza war tears a rift in NZ's 'single voice' on foreign affairs". Newsroom. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  2. ^ a b c d "Political Context". Palestine Australia. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  3. ^ a b c Trade, New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and. "Israel-Hamas Conflict". New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  4. ^ "Palestine campaign". nzhistory.govt.nz. Retrieved 2024-02-03.
  5. ^ Van Voorthuysen 2011, pp. 52–53.
  6. ^ a b "New Zealand". Palestine Australia. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  7. ^ "General Assembly Votes Overwhelmingly to Accord Palestine 'Non-Member Observer State' Status in United Nations". United Nations. 29 November 2012. Archived from the original on 1 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  8. ^ "New Zealand activists raise funds for Palestine charity after fine by Israel". Arab News. 2018-10-14. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  9. ^ Roy, Eleanor Ainge; Jong, Eleanor de (2018-10-12). "Israel fines New Zealand women $18,000 for urging Lorde concert boycott". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  10. ^ a b "Tweet considered anti-Israel cited as reason for not supporting Greens' push to grant Palestine statehood". Newshub. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  11. ^ "Green Party's bid for NZ declaration of Palestine as a state fails | Asia Pacific Report". 2021-05-19. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  12. ^ "New Zealand's Labour Party pledges recognition of Palestine if re-elected". Middle East Monitor. 2 October 2023. Retrieved 28 December 2023.
  13. ^ Manch, Thomas (22 April 2024). "Labour calls for the Government to recognise Palestine". The Post. Archived from the original on 23 April 2024. Retrieved 23 April 2024.
  14. ^ "UN vote: NZ supports 'enhancing Palestine's status' - Peters". RNZ. 11 May 2024. Archived from the original on 11 May 2024. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  15. ^ "New Zealand politicians speak out over Israel-Hamas violence". RNZ. 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  16. ^ "New Zealand calls for humanitarian pause in Gaza | Beehive.govt.nz". www.beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  17. ^ Sommerville, Troels (2023-11-21). "Where New Zealand political parties stand on Gaza conflict". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  18. ^ "Pro-Palestinian protesters splash red paint on US consulate, MFAT buildings in Auckland". RNZ. 2023-11-14. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  19. ^ "Pro-Israel protest organised by Brian Tamaki outside Parliament". RNZ. 2023-12-07. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  20. ^ "NZ halts funding for beleaguered UN aid agency". Radio New Zealand. 30 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  21. ^ "MFAT to review funding for under-fire UN agency accused over Hamas attacks". Radio New Zealand. 29 January 2024. Archived from the original on 29 January 2024. Retrieved 29 January 2024.
  22. ^ "NZ designated all of Hamas a terrorist entity". 1News. TVNZ. 29 February 2024. Archived from the original on 29 February 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  23. ^ Kowhai, Te Rina (20 December 2023). "Seven times more Israelis than Palestinians have NZ visas approved". Te Ao Māori News. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Double standard claims over special visas for Gaza refugees". 1News. TVNZ. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 24 March 2024.
  25. ^ "NZ to make UNRWA payment 'on schedule and in coming days' - Peters". 1News. 7 June 2024. Archived from the original on 7 June 2024. Retrieved 7 June 2024.
  26. ^ "McCully to visit Middle East | Beehive.govt.nz". www.beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  27. ^ "Palestine Authority Foreign Minister visits NZ | Beehive.govt.nz". www.beehive.govt.nz. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  28. ^ "McCully thanks departing Permanent Representative". Beehive.govt.nz. NZ Government. 20 February 2015. Retrieved 8 September 2024.
  29. ^ "Prime Minister discusses developments with New Zealand's representative to Palestine". Wafa. 21 August 2022. Retrieved 28 December 2023.

Further reading

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