New Zealand group fundraising for PFLP
The Workers Party of New Zealand has transferred funds to the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine.They have issued the following media release…
Due to the generosity and support of progressive people in New Zealand for the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) and the Palestinian cause, the PFLP solidarity campaign are happy to announce the first transfer of funds. One Thousand NZ Dollars raised by the campaign has been received by the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine for their use in whatever manner they deem most effective in resisting ongoing Israeli oppression, racism and military occupation.
The majority of the money has been raised through the sale of “Resistance is not Terrorism” t-shirts throughout the country. A new t-shirt is being designed featuring Leila Khaled, PFLP activist and resistant fighter, and will be released at a nationwide launch on the anniversary of the creation of the Zionist state of Israel, known by Palestinians as the “Nakba”, or catastrophe, on May 15th.
The campaign opposes the re-establishment of an Israeli embassy or any diplomatic relations with the Zionist state and deplores a recent announcement by Murray McCully, that a Working Holiday Scheme will “deepen our tourism and education links, and over time contribute to growth in our bilateral commercial, trade and investment links” with Israel.
PFLP sends thanks for New Zealand solidarity
Campaign co-ordinator Mike Walker stated that “instead of extending diplomatic ties with Israel we should be cutting them altogether, following the examples of Venezuela and Bolivia” .
The campaign seeks to challenge the political paradigm that allows legitimate National Liberation movements to be labelled as terrorist organisations, and the undemocratic way in which terrorist laws are administered. Prime Minister John Key recently added organisations to the ‘terrorist list’ in New Zealand, with no consultation, justifying it by stating they engaged in “terrorist acts including the indiscriminate killing of civilians and assassination of political leaders.” This statement lacks any credibility when New Zealand’s government seeks to strengthen links with the state of Israel that targets and kills political leaders, trade unionists, writers, cultural exemplars, community activists, local leaders, and student organisers while waging an economic and military war against a civilian population that has been under the tyranny of the longest running illegal military occupation in recent history.
Walker stated that by funding the Palestinian Resistance movement directly “people in New Zealand can stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people and their resistance, however that manifests itself”, while supporting the PFLP “and its vision of a single secular state in all of Palestine, where all people regardless of race, gender or religious beliefs have equal rights.”
President of the New Zealand Jewish Council Stephen Goodman told J-Wire: ” The Workers Party is the remains of the communist party. It is the lunatic left wanting New Zealand to be converted into a “workers republic”. They are misguided in both their local objectives and their attitude to Israel. While the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) is not recognised as a Terrorist organisation by the New Zealand it is regarded as such by the US and EU. A number of the senior operative of the PFLP are. It is not an offense to donate to the PFLP. It is, however, disappointing that New Zealander’s would donate some of their hard earned money to such a group.
We should be grateful that we live in a liberal democracy where individuals have the right to express their opinions no matter how extreme; the causes supported by the Workers Party, such as the PLFP, would not allow such freedom.”
Palestinians are trying to defend their lives and their homeland. The wins that they have made do not justify the war crimes against Palestine by Irael. Of course all peoples need a home which includes Palestinian as well as Israeli persons. I support the rights of all peoples to have a home. I support Israel’s right to exist, but not the oppression of the Palestianian people, or their antagonistic approach to other countries which is immoral.
It is important that Israelis learn to be happy where they are and live in harmony with their neighbouring countries. I agree that this may take some time. Meanwhile, I believe that it is important that the international community show solidarity to those nations oppressed or antagonised by Israel and rally support behind a more diciplinary approach to Israel which clearly struggles with it’s developing bounadaries.
I agree with the sentiments of Mike Walker set out above.
In our anger, it is easy to feel like destroying those who act as the enemy, but as parents know, the correct appoach to misbehaving persons is to put human beings back in their place and teach them how to behave.