NZ shows its independent foreign policy

The New Zealand Government has shown it has a truly independent foreign policy by not following traditional allies Australia, Canada and the UK in recognising a Palestinian State at this time.

This is, in my opinion, the correct decision. For a state to be recognised you need to be able to identify who the Government is, and what the territory is. Neither of these apply at the moment.

Winston Peters said:

“With a war raging, Hamas remaining the de facto government of Gaza, and no clarity on next steps, too many questions remain about the future State of Palestine for it to be prudent for New Zealand to announce recognition at this time,” Mr Peters says. 

“We are also concerned that a focus on recognition, in the current circumstances, could complicate efforts to secure a ceasefire by pushing Israel and Hamas into even more intransigent positions.”

New Zealand continues to call out all actions being taken by both Israel and Hamas which prolong the conflict, prevent a political solution, and seek to extinguish the viability of a Palestinian state, Mr Peters says.

“New Zealand has long been a staunch advocate of the two-state solution and a defender of Palestinians’ right to self-determination,” Mr Peters says. 

“What is needed now more than ever is dialogue, diplomacy and leadership – not further conflict and extremism. 

“New Zealanders are shocked by the harrowing images of famine in Gaza, revolted by the grossly disproportionate military action from the Israeli Government and disturbed by Israeli rhetoric and actions aimed at dismantling future prospects for a Palestinian state. 

I support a two state solution, and I do despair at elements in the current Israeli Government that do not. The talk of separating East Jerusalem from the rest the West Bank through settlements is deeply deeply bad. In fact I don’t support any settlements constructed in the disputed territories. I also agree that the Israeli military action is now disproportionate. It wasn’t initially. It wasn’t even for the first year or so. But it is now. I note 62% of Israeli Jews support a deal where in exchange for the remaining hostages, the IDF withdraws totally from Gaza. Also 53% of Israeli Jews are against Jewish settlements in the Gaza Strip. I am not Israeli but my views are in the majority there – I want the war to end in exchange for the hostages being released, and for there to be no permanent occupation of Gaza.