This is the text of an opinion piece written by NZFOI and published by the Press back in 2006. The article was recently discovered in our archives and re-published here for posterity:
Jews: a name that draws sharp reaction, from respect and honour, to paranoia and hatred. Yet Jews have contributed some of the greatest advances in art, music, literature, legislation, philosophy, science, technology and religion. The world has been greatly enriched because of their existence.
Nevertheless, controversy has never strayed far from their door. Few groups devote such high feelings and consequently it is difficult to sort fact from fiction.
New Zealand is a long way from the Middle East conflict and together with the complexities surrounding the dispute between Israel, the Palestinians and its neighbours, it is easy to get the wrong impression.
The New Zealand Friends of Israel Association was formed over 30 years ago to build friendship and goodwill between New Zealanders, Jews and Israelis through contact, education and discussion.
Being friends does not mean that we agree with everything that Israel says or does; in many cases when the occasion requires it, we do not hesitate to directly express our disagreement.
However, we have noticed several recurring false beliefs regarding the Middle Eastern situation. For example, that Israel is an illegal state or Israel does not want a negotiated peace.
So we have decided to enter the debate by raising awareness of the facts that reveal a different context and perspective to the news we see.
For example, each time Israel has made significant concessions as a result of peace negotiation, the Palestinians have met the Israelis with renewed violence. Why?
Hamas is first and foremost a religious organisation. Its name is an acronym for the Arabic phrase that means Islamic Resistance Movement. Its charter states categorically that it is an Islamic an organisation first.
It also states that all Jews must be hunted down and even creation will assist in their doom. They quote the Koran to justify this belief.
A land that is no longer under sharia law is an affront to many Moslems. Some will not rest until its jurisdiction is restored.
Realising that Israel cannot be taken in one step, the Palestinian Liberation Organisation, a predecessor of Hamas, developed a plan in 1974 to take Israel gradually, piece by piece. Each new piece gained will become a new base from which the war can be waged.
We see this unfolding before our eyes. It explains the unrelenting violence despite the Gaza pullout.
A final negotiated peace would mean giving up Hamas’s religious visions. This dynamic provides the foundational context for the entire conflict.
Some believe that taking Israel is but one step in making the ideal of Islamic law being the paramount authority in every land and they are prepared to make it happen by force.
Thus we see the philosophical mechanism by which the Western world is also threatened.
One of the terrorists who were planning to bomb the New York Subway admitted that he was trained in a Palestinian camp located in Lebanon. The problem Israel is facing is spreading.
Some New Zealanders hope that if we leave them alone then they will leave us alone. History suggests that this is not a realistic hope.
Many New Zealanders love to hate the United States. What we may say about the US, it’s financial aid and political backing has certainly assisted Israel from being carved up by its neighbouring countries long ago.
New Zealanders love to favour the underdog and the pictures we see often reinforced this perception that the Palestinians and their allies need all the support they can get. We have seen that this is a flawed but nevertheless powerful view.
Thus debate often becomes a one-sided criticism of Israel, and Palestinian terrorism is even compared favourably with the efforts of the French resistance. This dishonours the French heroic efforts because they never indiscriminately targeted civilians.
The urge to favour the underdog also fuels the accusation that Israel’s response to the recent kidnappings is disproportionate.
Israel is not just fighting its terrorist enemies. They are but proxies for its old nation state foes: Syria and Iran.
As New Zealanders we need to read widely, try to think independently and dispassionately and address the facts.
Develop a questioning mind, do not jump to conclusions quickly. seek out other enquirers. Learn about Middle Eastern culture. Then, speak up for justice. Talk to your friends. Contact your local MP. Right to the Minister of foreign affairs. Write your paper.
The Jews have given us Moses, Jesus Christ, Albert Einstein, Chagall, Johann Strauss, George Gershwin and Bob Dylan to name but a few.
More recently, Jewish technologists have contributed to the development of Microsoft Windows and Intel chips.
Jews are disproportionately represented among Nobel prizewinners. The world is a better and richer place for having the in it. Who will stand by them?
Barry Thompson is the president of New Zealand friends of Israel, www.nzfoi.org. This article was written by him and the Friends of Israel committee.
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