PSNA Newsletter No 93 - April 12 2023
12 Paenga-whāwhā 2023
12 April 2023
Newsletter No 93
Kia ora koutou,
Israeli attacks on Al Aqsa mosque
The last fortnight has seen a series of brutal, deliberately provocative Israeli attacks on Palestinian worshippers at Al Aqsa Mosque in occupied East Jerusalem during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Needless to say, Israel had no business interfering in Muslim worship at Al Aqsa, the third holiest shrine for Muslims after Mecca and Medina, and an area which is not under their authority or control. Despite this, Israeli attacks on Al Aqsa have intensified in recent years as the apartheid state strives to undermine all aspects of Palestinian life in Jerusalem. It is applying ethnic cleansing in slow motion.
Inevitably missile attacks on Israel from Gaza and Southern Lebanon followed and Israel has reveled in once again trying to portray itself to the world as the victim.
There is an excellent 10-minute video in which former Palestinian spokesperson Hanan Ashrawi more than held her own against a hostile BBC interviewer here.
There is also an excellent podcast produced by Al Jazeera which backgrounds the increase in violence in the Middle East. Speakers on the podcast are:
Nour Odeh – Political analyst and former spokeswoman for the Palestinian National Authority.
Uri Dromi – Founder and president of the Jerusalem Press Club and a former spokesman for the Israel government.
Francesca Albanese – United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
Further background on the politics around Al Aqsa is covered in this Al Jazeera podcast.
Media reporting over the past fortnight
Initially reporting here in New Zealand was reasonable and clearly identified Israel as the brutal racist aggressors attacking Palestinian civilians at worship. However, within a couple of days media reporting deteriorated dramatically with the “normal” appalling reporting taking over – painting Palestinians as terrorists and Israel as simply enforcing law and order.
At the heart of appalling reporting for a long time has been the BBC which slavishly and consistently screws the scrum in Israel’s favour. The BBC does not report on the Middle East – it propagandises for Israel.
Journalist Jonathan Cook describes how the BBC coverage is enabling Israeli violence and UN Special Rapporteur on the Palestinian Territories, Francesca Albanese, called out the BBC’s awful reporting in a tweet.
It’s not just the BBC of course. For example the New York Times has been called out for deliberately distorting the news to blame Palestinians for Al Aqsa mosque crisis.
It’s not reporting – it’s propaganda!
Why is the BBC important for Aotearoa New Zealand?
Unfortunately, here in Aotearoa New Zealand our media frequently and uncritically uses BBC reports to inform New Zealanders on the Middle East.
Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand, our state broadcasters, are the worst offenders.
For example here are two BBC stories carried on RNZ this past week here and here. They cover the deaths of three Jewish women in a terrorist attack in the occupied West Bank. The media should report such killings but there is no context whatever given for the illegal Jewish-only settlements at the heart in the occupied West Bank, Israel’s military occupation across all Palestine, the daily ritual humiliation and debasement of Palestinians or its racist apartheid policies towards Palestinians – or as Israeli human rights groups B’Tselem describes it “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid” Neither are there Palestinian voices in the above reports – they are typically absent from most Middle East reporting, or at best muted, compared to extensive quoting from racist Israeli leaders.
The BBC is happy to report the “What?” but not the “Why?”
Needless to say neither Radio New Zealand, nor TVNZ, has provided any such sympathetic coverage for the many dozens of Palestinians killed by Israel this year – including at least 16 Palestinian children. To the BBC, RNZ and TVNZ, murdered Palestinian children are simply statistics.
RNZ and TVNZ say they cannot ensure to cover all the complexities of the Middle East in every story and that people get a balanced view over time from their regular reporting.
This is not true. Their reliance on so much systematically-biased BBC reporting, and other sources which are often not much better, tells a different story. For example, references to Israel as an apartheid state – something attested to by every credible human rights groups – such as Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch – are always absent from any RNZ or TVNZ reporting and yet this is critical to help people understand what is going on in Palestine. Neither are there significant references to international law or United Nations resolutions – the tools which provide for a Middle East peace based on justice – the only peace possible.
Unlike their reporting on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, RNZ and TVNZ reporting on the Middle East leaves people confused and ready to blame both sides equally for the murder and mayhem unleashed by Israel on Palestinians and Palestinian resistance to the Israeli military occupation and all that entails.
Something you can do now with just a few clicks…
Copy and paste this letter to our state broadcasters, RNZ and TVNZ. The letter can be pasted directly into the TVNZ response form at the link below.
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Richard Sutherland
Head of News
Radio New Zealand
rnz@rnz.co.nz
Phil O'Sullivan
Head of News and Current Affairs
Television New Zealand
https://helptvnz.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/requests/new
Kia ora,
Request RNZ and TVNZ abandon using BBC reporting on the Middle East
Much of the recent reporting by Radio New Zealand and Television New Zealand on the Middle East has been appalling. In large part this is because RNZ and TVNZ rely on BBC reporting which is demonstrably and systematically biased in favour of Israeli perspectives.
For example here are two BBC stories carried on RNZ this past week here and here. They cover the deaths of three Jewish women in a terrorist attack in the occupied West Bank. The media should report such killings but there is no context whatever given for the illegal Jewish-only settlements at the heart in the occupied West Bank, Israel’s military occupation across all Palestine, its daily ritual humiliation and debasement of Palestinians or its racist apartheid policies towards Palestinians – as attested by every credible human rights group, such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch or Israeli human rights groups B’Tselem which describes Israel as “A regime of Jewish supremacy from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea: This is apartheid”
Neither are there any Palestinian voices in the above reports – they are typically absent from most Middle East reporting compared to the extensive quoting from racist Israeli leaders.
The BBC is happy to report the “What?” but not the “Why?”
Neither Radio New Zealand nor TVNZ has provided any such sympathetic coverage for the many dozens of Palestinians killed by Israel this year – including at least 16 Palestinian children. To the BBC, RNZ and TVNZ, it seems murdered Palestinian children are simply statistics.
Previously you have said you cannot ensure to cover all the complexities of the Middle East in every story and that people get a balanced view over time from ongoing reporting.
However your reliance on so much systematically-biased BBC reporting tells a different story. When journalism has hard-baked bias built into it then your readers, listeners and viewers are consistently and seriously misinformed.
As an important service to journalism and New Zealanders, I urge RNZ and TVNZ to no longer carry any BBC reports on the Middle East.
<your name>
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Please consider stopping and sending your email before reading on.
It will take less than 2 minutes.
Also, please consider Bcc’ing Secretary@PSNA.nz so we can track how many emails RNZ and TVNZ receives.Or forward your email to me after you have sent it to Richard and Phil.
With each newsletter, the number of emails sent grows.
The more emails we send, the more traction we get.
Nga mihi
Neil (Secretary)
75th anniversary of the Nakba
International Day of action – Saturday 13 May
Saturday 13 May is the international day of action marking the 75th anniversary of the Nakba (“catastrophe” in Arabic) which marks the ethnic cleansing of more than 700,000 Palestinians from their land and homes by Israeli militias in 1948. The Nakba continues today with ethnic cleansing, house demolitions and land theft across Palestine.
Marches and demonstrations will be held across the world and here in Aotearoa New Zealand, because we are close to the international dateline, we will be the first country to be taking action.
Mark this day in your calendar now – details of protest activity around the country will be in the next newsletters leading up to Saturday 13 May.
Adalah Justice Project – Petition calling for signatures
Tell Biden this sinister deal to create a private militia for a man already convicted of racist incitement is NOT A WIN for democracy here
Conversations with my immigrant parents
RNZ program
Episode 2: Representation Matters - Conversations With My Immigrant Parents S3
From Conversations With My Immigrant Parents, 6:00 am on 10 April 2023
Produced for RNZ by Saraid de Silva and Julie Zhu | Made with the support of NZ On Air
Palestine is where the heart is for father Sameer and his daughters Wajd and Shahd. The family discuss the difficulties returning home, sisterhood, and what they learnt from Shortland Street.
Petition to parliament calling for New Zealand to recognise Palestine as a state
This petition has been organised by Kate Stone from Justice for Palestine. You can use the QR code in the picture above or go to this link to sign the petition. Please sign and share.
Here are a few items from previous newsletters in case you missed them.
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New Animated Film Explainer on Israeli Apartheid
For more than seven decades, Israel has maintained a regime of institutionalized racial discrimination and domination over the Palestinian people as a whole. Al-Haq's new animated film titled, 'Israel's Settler Colonial Apartheid Regime: Segregating the Palestinian People,' explains the origins and evolution of Israeli apartheid.
The film accompanies a landmark Palestinian coalition report: 'Israeli Apartheid: Tool of Zionist Settler Colonialism,' which was launched by Al-Haq in November 2022.
Is your property an “apartheid free zone”?
These are popping up on letterboxes and fences all over the country – to get your “Apartheid free zone” coreflute to stick on your letterbox or your front fence just deposit $5 in:
Account Name: Palestine Solidarity Network
Account Number: 38 9015 0849542 00
and send an email to secretary@PSNA.nz with your address and we’ll send you one - or as many as you’d like for your neighbours and friends….
Zionism During the Holocaust
Don’t forget to be on the lookout for this man…
Israeli Ambassador Ran Yaakoby
The Israeli ambassador Ran Yaakoby is active around the country promoting positive messages about Israel’s apartheid system against Palestinians.
We are keen to be there whenever he speaks to protest and call out Israel’s racist apartheid policies.
If you find out about any speaking engagements Ran Yaakoby has please let us know by texting 027 4 APARTHEID (0274272784) or email apartheid-israel@psna.nz
Petition to Close the Israeli Embassy
If you haven’t signed our petition to close the Israeli embassy yet…
Scan and Sign here
Or Click and Sign here
Important stories from the Web
Attacks on Al Aqsa
Israeli forces storm Al Aqsa and arrest over 300 worshippers here
Al-Aqsa Mosque raid: How a night of worship became a night of Israeli brutality here
Israel attacks Al-Aqsa two nights in a row, beating worshipers at holy site here
UN condemns Israeli raid on Al Aqsa mosque here
The far-right Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir said Israelis “must” storm the mosque on Wednesday here
Al-Aqsa raid: How BBC coverage is enabling Israeli violence here
The New York Times deliberately distorts the news to blame Palestinians for Al Aqsa mosque crisis here
World leaders condemn Israeli raid on Al Aqsa mosque here
Israeli protests against Netanyahu to protect Israel’s “democracy”
More than democracy is at stake in Israeli protests here
Say They’re Defending Freedom. Palestinians Know Better here
Israel’s crisis is about who gets to play tyrant: the generals or religious thugs here
Israel’s protest movement is bringing Netanyahu to his knees here
Analysists say Palestinians will pay the price for Israeli “democracy” here
United Nations
Sixty Rights Groups Urge United Nations Not to Adopt IHRA Definition of Antisemitism here
General
Interview with Noam Chomsky on Palestine, climate change etc here
Gaza
Palestine Centre for Human Rights – new report on serious repercussions on Gaza strip due to shortage of medical equipment here
Australia
Freedom of Information request exposes Australia’s attempts to protect Israel on apartheid reports here
United States
Israel fears US will push interim nuclear deal with Iran here
Biden’s disinvitation to Netanyahu followed PM’s accusation U.S. is funding demonstrations to ‘topple’ him here
'Precedent-setting': US lawmakers demand Biden probe Israel's use of US arms here
Biden administration refuses to condemn Israeli storming Al Aqsa mosque and blocks UN Security Council statement here
US media turn on Netanyahu finally for meddling in US policy here
Israeli racism and brutality
Israel's Police Chief in Leaked Recording: 'Arabs Murder Each Other. It's in Their Nature' here (paywalled)
Fake Friends: Leak Reveals Israeli Firms Turning Social Media Into Spy Tech here
Soft gloves police treatment of Jewish protestors reveals Israeli racism here
The law and the prophets offers a master class on Israel’s control of Palestinians here
Meet Avichai Buaron - the new Likud lawmaker who advocated for extermination camps for Israel’s enemies here
The Israeli right is planning to ban Palestinian parties – here’s how! here
Reminder: Dates for Palestine Solidarity in 2023
Israel apartheid week has been added to the dates for likely local and national Palestine solidarity activity this year.
28 Mar – 4 Apr Israel Apartheid Week
30 Mar Land Day Palestine
5 Apr Palestinian Childs Day
9 Apr Deir Yassin massacre - Irgun Terrorism - 107-120 Palestinian men, women and children massacred
17 Apr Palestinian Prisoners Day
11 May World Kufiya Day
15 May Nakba Day – marking the mass ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from Palestine in 1948
5 Jun Nakba Day - Start of 1967 War - Land Grab – Invasion of Jerusalem, West Bank, Gaza, Egypt and Syria - 5 June 1967 – 10 June 1967
20 Jun Attack on Gaza - 6–21 May 2021 (2 weeks and 1 day)
16-18 Sep 40th anniversary of the Sabra and Shatila massacres
28 Sep Second Intifada - 28 Sept 2000 – 8 Feb 2005
2 Nov Balfour Declaration
29 Nov United Nations - International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People
8 Dec First Intifada - 8 Dec 1987 – 13 Sept 1993
Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign?
We will need some serious money to make our campaign as effective as possible. For example, we will need somewhere in the vicinity of $25,000 to bring speakers to New Zealand over the next year and organise large public meetings to help spread the message.
You can help. Are you able to donate a cup of coffee a month to the campaign? In other words, can you afford to make an automatic payment of $5 per month to support the Palestinian struggle? (If you can afford more that would be great!)
Our account details are:
Account name: Palestine Solidarity Network
Account number: 38-9015-0849542-00
We are happy to provide a receipt upon request (however, we are not a registered charity so this is not tax-deductible)
In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter – an invitation to subscribe from Leslie Bravery
Because of mainstream news media complicity, daily headlines and commentary only occasionally ever mention the relentless Israeli violence in Palestine, not even the frequent air strikes!
However, daily news and statistics regarding the violence Palestinians are forced to live under are regularly reported on in the “In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter”, sourced and compiled for easy reading and correlation chiefly from the Palestinian Monitoring Group's daily situation reports.
The In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter continues to be circulated, by email, worldwide to subscribers only, as it has been over the last two decades.
Please contact lesliebravery@icloud.com if you also wish to become a subscriber.
Merchandise for sale
We have Merchandise you can buy including T-shirts from our website.
Go here - https://www.psna.nz/shop
More ways you can get involved
Forward this Newsletter – If you know people who may be interested in this movement, please forward this Newsletter to them.
Join in local activities in your area monthly Rallies - In Auckland at 2.00 pm on the first Saturday of every month. Please consider doing the same in your community. Contact Secretary@PSNA.nz if you would like to know where and how to get Flags and Banners
Help set up a Students for Justice in Palestine groups on your campus
Tell Your MP your opinions on Divestment and Sanctions of Israel.
Write Letters to Newspapers – Call Talkback Radio
Keep in touch with the campaign on social media
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network website: https://www.PSNA.nz
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/671376706283605/
o NZ Palestine Solidarity Network email: Secretary@PSNA.nz
The Palestine Human Rights Campaign produces the In Occupied Palestine newsletter. It is a regular daily newsletter on the daily situation in Palestine, compiled by Leslie Bravery and emailed to subscribers. If you would also like to become a subscriber, please contact Leslie at “lesliebravery @ icloud .com” (remove the spaces to use as an email address) for further information.
Keep Updated on our Facebook pages and websites (listed below)
Human rights for Uyghur refugees - In line with our support for human rights for the people of Palestine we have added our name to the petition in support of human rights for Uyghur refugees so they can be included in the government’s refugee quota. PSNA members who wish to also sign this petition can do so here - https://our.actionstation.org.nz/petitions/open-letter-let-s-show-compassion-to-the-uyghur-community
PSNA Groups
PSNA National Committee
Website: www.PSNA.nz
Chair - John Minto: Chair@PSNA.nz
Secretary - Neil Scott: Secretary@PSNA.nz
Regional Groups
Bay of Islands PSN Bay of Islands (Email)
Whangarei PSN Whangarei (Facebook)
Auckland PSN Auckland – Tamaki Makaurau (Website)
Hamilton Palestine Human Rights Campaign Waikato (Facebook)
Tauranga Tauranga Moana 4 Palestine (Facebook)
Napier/Hastings Aotearoa Standing with Palestine (Facebook)
Palmerston North PSN Palmerston North (Email)
New Plymouth PSN Taranaki (Facebook)
Wellington PSN Wellington (Email)
Nelson Te Tau Ihu (Nelson) Palestine (Facebook)
Christchurch PSN Christchurch (Facebook)
Dunedin Dunedin for Justice in Palestine (Facebook)
Invercargill PSNA Invercargill (Email)