NEW ZEALAND MUST BACK THE JEWISH STATE
The anti-Semitic movement which is trying to disguise itself as a humanitarian cause for the Palestinian Arabs–BDS (for Boycotts, Divestments and Sanctions against the State of Israel)—is primarily a political weapon in the hands of Israel’s enemies to try and discredit and delegitimize the Jewish people in their quest to maintain their self-determination. The chant of the BDS activists which correlates with their maps of Palestine (showing no room for a Jewish state) is “From the River to the
Sea Palestine will be free!” This really is the intent and purpose behind BDS—not just to delegitimise Israel but to damn the State altogether. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau summed it up when he said of BDS in January, “we need to understand that anti-Semitism has also manifested itself not just as in targeting of individuals, but it is also targeting a new condemnation or anti-Semitism against the very State of Israel…which can be characterised by the three d’s—demonization of Israel, a double standard around Israel and a de-legitimization of the State of Israel…I will continue to condemn the BDS movement”.
There is indeed a double-standard in the UN when it comes to Israel. We saw that at the end of 2016 in UN Security Council Resolution 2334 when Israeli settlements were condemned outright, without respect to secure borders or to the historical connection the Jews have to the land. The ratio of condemnations dished out by the UN against Israel as compared to the rest of the world is usually at least four condemnations to Israel for every one condemnation to all the other nations combined. That’s a DOUBLE STANDARD. When despotic and un-democratic nations are by-passed and the one true democracy in the Middle East is ostracised unjustly then it’s time for NZ to stand aside from the crowd and vote against these anti-Israel resolutions. National Party leaders who were in government at the time UNSC Res. 2334 was passed have since admitted that the resolution was “wrong”. In a more recent case on 6 December 2018 under the Labour-led Government, NZ voted in favour of a UN resolution condemning the terrorism of Hamas but immediately prior to this abstained on another resolution to require a two-thirds majority for the Hamas condemnation to be passed. NZ honourably condemned Hamas terrorism in one vote but first dishonourably killed that vote by sitting on the fence. Why require a two-thirds majority to condemn terrorism? Again it seems truth was sacrificed for appeasement to Arab pressure. The elusive Middle East peace deal, if ever realised, will never produce a lasting peace as long as historical truth is its sacrificial lamb— a sacrifice the UN seems eager to make but a deal Israel should never accept.
The best chance of a real deal will only be achieved if the United Nations step aside and allow honest negotiations to go ahead between the Israelis and the Palestinians. At present the Israelis are being coerced into giving up land that is theirs historically. The Palestinians are demanding that territory as if it is theirs. The historical record backs the Jewish people. Any deal is going to require cooperation from both sides. The Israelis have shown their willingness to placate the Palestinians on this but the Palestinians have not returned the favour. Let’s be clear: the Israelis hold land they have a right to hold. The Palestinians want that land. The best chance for a peaceful outcome is NEGOTIATION and respect between the two parties. The best way to botch this is by continued unfair and one-sided UN resolutions against Israel which New Zealand often supports. Despite his domestic challenges in Canada recently, the NZ Government could still learn from Justin Trudeau. Pastor Nigel Woodley FOR THE PROTECTION OF ZION TRUST
www.fortheprotectionofzion.com
P O BOX 15058, FLAXMERE, HASTINGS 4154 Released for publication 29.3.19
Nigel Woodley is Senior Pastor of the Flaxmere Christian Fellowship Church in Hastings and is an advocate for the right of the Jewish People to live on their historical and indigenous homeland in the Land of Israel.