New Zealand activists raise thousands for Palestinians after Israel Lorde fine

Two New Zealand activists have raised thousands of dollars for mental health in Gaza after an Israeli court ordered them to pay damages for writing an open letter that convinced singer Lorde to cancel her show in Tel Aviv.

Jewish-New Zealander Justine Sachs and PalestinianNew Zealander Nadia AbuShanab on Friday rejected the legal action which ordered them to pay NZ$12,400 (US$7,800) for causing mental harm to three Israeli teenagers who had purchased tickets to the concert.

Instead, the duo turned to a crowdfunding website which by yesterday had raised over $15,000. “We would like to redirect the support extended to us back to Palestinians in need of mental health support,” Sachs and Abu-Shanab wrote on the Give A Little website, adding that the money would go to the Gaza Mental Health Foundation.

“Emotional distress is a lived reality for Palestinians in Gaza, where over half of children suffer PTSD as a result of Israeli military attacks,” the activists wrote. Abu-Shanab told NZ Radio that the pair were not prepared for the amount of international attention they would receive. She said the pair had been “struck with a sense of responsibility”. “Israel has chosen to make an example of us.” The lawsuit, filed in January, is the first ruling to cite a controversial 2011 Israeli antiboycott law that allows civil action against entities who call for a boycott of the state.

“Playing in Tel Aviv will be seen as giving support to the policies of the Israeli government, even if you make no comment on the political situation,” the activists wrote in their letter to Lorde in December. The singer responded on Twitter, saying the concerns had been “Noted!”

Days later, the 21-year-old New Zealander cancelled the performance which was due to conclude her Melodrama world tour.