ISRAEL FACES REAL SECURITYTHREATS

It is important to understand the threats facing the only Jewish State in the world so we can appreciate Israel’s need to exercise its right to defend itself.

IRAN – For many years Iranian leaders (religious, military, and political) have been promising to wipe Israel off the map. One year into the 2015 Nuclear agreement (JCPOA) which aimed at stifling Iran’s chances of manufacturing nuclear weapons, Iran tested a ballistic missile capable of reaching Israel. This was in contravention of the JCPOA agreement. Reports stated that two of the test missiles had “Israel must be wiped off the earth” written on them. This was simply an echo of former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who had said that Israel is a “disgraceful blot” that should be “wiped off the face of the earth”. These threats have not diminished since Ahmadinejad’s comment in 2005 but are heard regularly from leaders of the Iranian regime.

People who would class such threats as mere political rhetoric should understand that the Jewish people learned from Adolf Hitler to take such rhetoric seriously.

HAMAS (Islamic Resistance Movement) – As a radical jihadist group, Hamas states in its charter: “Israel will rise and will remain erect until Islam eliminates it”. In Article 13 of its charter Hamas declares: “There is no solution to the Palestinian problem except by Jihad.” Article 25 states, “Hamas is a movement of Jihad”.

Its very constitution calls for the destruction of Israel. It is therefore not surprising when violent confrontations take place on the border of Gaza and Israel. Hamas will without reason or provocation send volleys of rockets and incendiary balloons in Israel’s direction, and Israel has no option but to retaliate in defence of its territory and citizens—a right that any state in the world would exercise. Of grave concern to the Israelis are the “terror tunnels” constantly being constructed with the intention to send jihadist fighters into Israel to carry out terrorist attacks. Hamas spends hundreds of millions of dollars constructing such tunnels with money that could be spent helping the people of Gaza. HEZBOLLAH (Party of God) – In the latest conflict between Hamas and Israel in May 2021, Hamas and its allies fired over 4,300 rockets toward Israel in eleven days. This was from an estimated inventory of 14,000 rockets. However, this is just in the southern part of Israel. In the north at the Lebanese border the threat is greater. The terrorist organisation Hezbollah possesses an estimated 130,000 rockets which could be used against Israel when the opportune time arises. Terror tunnels have been discovered also on the Lebanese border.

The military wings of Hamas and Hezbollah are designated as terrorist entities by New Zealand because they engage in terrorist activities. Israel faces these threats on two different fronts.

WEST BANK BORDERS – The threats to Israel’s borders in the north and south presents the Israel Defence Forces with ongoing challenges every day. The challenges to Israel’s security would be exacerbated if Israel returned to its “1967 lines” with an armed Jihadist army at that border. If Hamas were to take control of the West Bank as they did in Gaza this would pose a new and extremely dangerous threat right in the heart of Israel. The “1967 border” at Tulkarim is only 15 kilometres from the Mediterranean Sea and a concerted and effective attack from a determined military force could cut the State of Israel in two at this point. For this reason alone, Israel could never return to the “1967 lines”; not when jihadist groups intent on Israel’s destruction are waiting for the day to pounce. Israel learned the importance of having a decent geographical buffer between itself and its enemies when it faced unprovoked threats to its sovereignty in 1948, 1967 and 1973. These were serious military threats and attacks to its existence.

When the closest New Zealand diplomats to Israel are situated in Ankara Turkey, in our opinion they are too far removed from the reality just outlined and as a result cannot fully appreciate these and other major and genuine concerns Israel has for its security. This author believes that the disconnect results in New Zealand voting in favour of UN resolutions demanding Israel return to those borders, not appreciating the reality on the ground. An Embassy in Israel would allow our diplomats to have first-hand knowledge of the situation without relying on other sources, which according to this writer are sometimes biased against Israel. An Embassy in Israel would not only give New Zealand a clearer picture of genuine Israeli needs, but it could also open greater opportunities for trade between our two countries.

ISRAEL HAS A LOT TO OFFER NEW ZEALAND

We should have proper representation in a country that has a western style democracy like ours; believes in values like ours; and seeks genuine peace with her neighbours as we do. Despite the rhetoric often heard from Israel’s detractors, Israel desperately seeks to defend its citizens from unprovoked terror attacks while at the same time seeking dialogue with the Palestinian Authority, which has refused to come to the negotiating table for more than a decade now. Despite challenging security threats Israel continues to lead the world in technology, medicine, counterterrorism, land reformation, irrigation, and other areas. The spin off for New Zealand could be great in education, science, technology, viticulture, horticulture, agriculture, and increased trade.

Both countries are small, advanced economies, and have a lot in common. Israel reopened its embassy in Wellington in 2010, and despite some turbulent times in the relationship it has remained. We believe it is time for New Zealand to reciprocate. Please sign the online petition for the establishment of an Embassy in Israel: https://www.parliament.nz/en/petitions/sign/PET_111792