Richard Prosser, MP

Friday, 15 February 2013, 8:31 am
Press Release: Wellington Council of Christians and Jews

Media Release
Wellington Council of Christians and Jews

Christians and Jews Condemn Prosser’s Statements

14 February 2013
Wellington

The Wellington Council of Christians and Jews today formally denounced the statements made by New Zealand First MP Richard Prosser in his recent article in Investigate magazine.

Christian Co-Chair Reverend Jenny Chalmers said, “We are astounded that a New Zealand magazine would publish such bigoted nonsense. Mr Prosser’s writing could influence and incite hatred based on a person’s appearance or religious adherence. Not only is that morally wrong, it places in jeopardy the freedoms that we New Zealanders, including over 50,000 Muslims, cherish.”

Jewish Co-Chair Dave Moskovitz added, “We would like to invite Mr Prosser to visit the Wellington Islamic Centre with us to meet some real Muslims, and dispel his stereotypes. If he wants to make further comment after that, so be it, but it would be after having had a chance to meet some of the good citizens that are affected by his writing.”

ENDS

Jews marching in Marseille

Following the release of a report that shows acts of Antisemitism in France jumping dramatically in 2012, we thought we would bring you this remarkable article which gives a perspective on French culture and its relationship with Jews:

Taken aback, my Jewish friend and I both looked at each other,…

Read more.

France saw an increase of 58 percent in anti-Semitic incidents in 2012 compared to the previous year, according to a report released Tuesday by the SPCJ, the security unit of France’s Jewish communities.

The report showed that 614 anti-Semitic acts were documented in the country last year compared to 389 in 2011.

Incidents in which the victims were accosted physically or verbally on the street increased 82 percent, to 315 last year from 177 cases in 2011, SPCJ said. A fourth of the 96 physical anti-Semitic assaults involved a weapon.

The head of France’s CRIF Jewish representative group, Richard Prasquier, said…

Read more.

Sally Sara, ABC

Now, to the unfolding case of Ben Zygier, the 34-year-old Australian man accused of being a spy who died in mysterious circumstances in an Israeli jail in 2010.

Theories are starting to emerge about why Israel arrested him and held him in such secrecy. One is that he was about to expose Israel’s use of Australian passports.

That’s an issue that New Zealand authorities know all about after their own Israeli intelligence scandal several years ago.

But the response of the New Zealand government to Israel stands in stark contrast to Australia’s approach.

Read more.

The level of anti-Semitic incidents occurring in the United Kingdom rose slightly in 2012, with 640 attacks, up from 608 in 2011.

While there has been some debate over the numbers – with some critics alleging that certain incidents were counted twice – Jewish leaders have been watchful.

However, speaking with The Jerusalem Post on Thursday, , president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the primary body representing that country’s Jewish community, said he did not believe the security situation was as bad as some made it out to be.

“It’s not drastic,” he said. “We are not in crisis, but the situation needs watching.”

Read more.

In a letter to the editor of the Miami Herald, Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz said that one of the leading candidates to replace Pope Benedict XVI is an anti-Semite.

Responding to a list published last week after the resignation of Benedict, which identified Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga of Honduras as a possible successor to the current pope, Dershowitz wrote, “He has blamed the Jews for the scandal surrounding the sexual misconduct of priests toward young parishioners!

Read more.

Israel’s powerful Knesset, the legislative branch of the government that passes all laws and supervises the work of the government, announced an “intensive examination” would be conducted into the jailing and death of the Melbourne-born man.

Read more.

Wednesday, 13 February 2013, 8:33 am
Press Release: Embassy of Israel in Wellington

12 February 2013

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Israeli Ambassador To New Zealand Responds MP Prosser’s Comments

In reference to today’s interview with MP Richard Prosser on newstalkzb, Israeli Ambassador to New zealand Shemi Tzur states the following:

“Claims by MP Prosser that Israeli airline El Al bans passengers on the basis of their ethnicity or religion are not only false but also vicious in character. All travelers are equally important on El Al and in Israel”.

ENDS

Source.

Ha’aretz is a major source of critical and anti-Israel stories for the international media. In the latest example, Ha’aretz’s radical left-wing commentator Gideon Levy has deliberately fed the international media a skewed and biased reading of a poll that claims “Most Israeli Jews would support apartheid regime in Israel“.

Read more.

New Zealand is promoting its decision to support the United Nations vote on Palestinian statehood – alone amongst its oldest friends – and its anti-nuclear credentials as evidence that it would have an independent and strong voice on the UN Security Council.

Read more.