PM: Embassy in Jerusalem would be a ‘step back’
Jacinda Ardern has condemned the ‘‘devastating, one-sided loss of life’’ in Gaza, as the United States opens its embassy to Israel in Jerusalem.
The prime minister said the decision to move the embassy from Tel Aviv was a ‘‘step back’’ when it came to a peaceful, two-state resolution between Israelis and Palestinians.
The move came as a blow to Palestinians, who viewed part of Jerusalem as the capital of a possible future state.
Israeli soldiers have killed dozens of Palestinians – the death toll was 52 yesterday morning (New Zealand time) – demonstrating along the border fence between Israel and the Gaza Strip. More than 2400 had been wounded in the bloodiest day in the enclave since the 2014 war with Israel, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.
The violent backlash did not come as a surprise, Ardern said.
An estimated 35,000 Palestinians gathered on the edges of Gaza, fanning out along the fence in the largest demonstrations yet as the US Embassy opened its new premises in Jerusalem.
At a gathering point east of Gaza City, organisers urged demonstrators to burst through the fence, telling them Israeli soldiers were fleeing their positions, even as they were reinforcing them.
At the barrier, young men threw stones and tried to launch burning kites in hopes of setting crops ablaze on the other side. Most of the demonstrators, though, were peaceful, protesting the loss of their homes and villages and the embassy move.
‘‘This is a hotly contested issue within that peace process and, as we’ve seen, the results of the protests along the border of Gaza have been devastating,’’ Ardern said.
‘‘It is the right of any nation to defend its border but this is a devastating, one-sided, loss of life. We would condemn the violence that has occurred. It’s plain to see the effects of this decision and the ramifications are wide-reaching.’’
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs had raised concerns, on behalf of the Government, directly with the Israeli ambassador to New Zealand, Ardern said.
Last year, American President Donald Trump said his country’s embassy would be moving from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, in an effort to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. The opening had been timed to coincide with Israel’s Independence Day.
Following that announcement, New Zealand was among 128 nations voting for a United Nations resolution condemning the US for recognising Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
The US and Israel resoundingly lost the nonbinding general assembly vote 128 to 9. The resolution didn’t name the US explicitly but expressed ‘‘deep regret’’ at any decision to recognise Jerusalem as Israel’s capital – which American President Trump decided to do on December 6, 2017.
‘‘We made our voice heard at that time – that it was our view that this did not bring us closer towards that peaceful resolution; that two-state solution, which New Zealand has long-supported,’’ Ardern said of the UN vote.
‘‘It certainly doesn’t sit within the framework of a two-state solution. This has taken us a step back, rather than a step forward ... Certainly, we feel no closer today than we did six months ago.’’
This has taken us a step back, rather than a step forward.’’