Baruch haba from NZ Friends of Israel, your Excellency.
Le Carre: ‘Extraordinary’ Israel, ‘crackling with debate, rocked me to my boots’ | Times of Israel
NZFOI: John Le Carre was one of the most successful spy novelists of the 20th and 21st Centuries. He arguably created the genre of the spy as the anti-hero in stark contrast to the glamorous spies created by Ian Fleming. In this interview, Le Carre reveals himself to be a staunch supporter of Israel.
In a rare interview 22 years ago, the peerless thriller writer talked about Israel and Jews; Smiley could have been Jewish, he said of his most famous character. ‘Perhaps he was’
John le Carre, the master spy novelist who died Sunday aged 89, had a long fascination and sympathy for the Jewish people and a deep admiration for Israel.
Jewish characters were interwoven in his many novels, and his research into the 1983 novel “The Little Drummer Girl” gave him his first real exposure to Israel with a visit that “rocked” him, he said in a rare 1998 interview with Douglas Davis of the Jewish World Review.
“Israel,” he told Davis, “rocked me to my boots. I had arrived expecting whatever European sentimentalists expect — a re-creation of the better quarters of Hampstead [in London]. Or old Danzig, or Vienna or Berlin. The strains of Mendelssohn issuing from open windows of a summer’s evening. Happy kids in seamen’s hats clattering to school with violin cases in their hands.”
Instead, what he recalled finding was “the most extraordinary carnival of human variety that I have ever set eyes on, a nation in the process of re-assembling itself from the shards of its past, now Oriental, now Western, now secular, now religious, but always anxiously moralizing about itself, criticizing itself with Maoist ferocity, a nation crackling with debate, rediscovering its past while it fought for its future.”
“No nation on earth,” he said, “was more deserving of peace — or more condemned to fight for it.”
Morocco joins other Arab nations agreeing to normalize Israel ties | Reuters
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Israel and Morocco agreed on Thursday to normalize relations in a deal brokered with U.S. help, making Morocco the fourth Arab country to set aside hostilities with Israel in the past four months.
It joins the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Sudan in beginning to forge deals with Israel, driven in part by U.S.-led efforts to present a united front against Iran and roll back Tehran’s regional influence.
In a departure from longstanding U.S. policy, President Donald Trump agreed as part of the deal to recognize Morocco’s sovereignty over the Western Sahara, a desert region where a decades-old territorial dispute has pitted Morocco against the Algeria-backed Polisario Front, a breakaway movement that seeks to establish an independent state.
President-elect Joe Biden, due to succeed Trump on Jan. 20, will face a decision whether to accept the U.S. deal on the Western Sahara, which no other Western nation has done. A Biden spokesman declined to comment.
While Biden is expected to move U.S. foreign policy away from Trump’s “America First” posture, the Democrat has indicated he will continue the pursuit of what Trump calls “the Abraham Accords” between Israel and Arab and Muslim nations.
3 players suspended from Argentina’s rugby team after anti-Semitic tweets discovered, but reinstated days later | JTA
NZFOI: When this story broke, curiously, NZ mainstream media made no mention that anti-Semitism was involved: NZ Herald, Stuff.
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (JTA) — Three players from Argentina’s national rugby team were suspended after anti-Semitic and other hateful messages from a decade ago were discovered on Twitter and spread on social media.
Two days later, however, following pressure from members of the national team and other Argentine rugby clubs, the Argentina Rugby Union reinstated the players, who were allowed to play in the squad’s next match on Saturday.
The messages, also against Black people and immigrants from neighboring countries, were made in 2011-12 by Pablo Matera, the team’s captain, as well as Guido Petti and Santiago Socino, and discovered last week.
NZFOI deeply troubled by Ngarewa-Parker’s use of the Holocaust
Maori Party co-leader Debbie Ngarewa-Parker’s claim to be a holocaust survivor diminishes the Nazi Holocaust and causes further pain to those who have lost loved ones in that attempted genocide.
In Parliament, newly elected Maori Party MP, Debbie Ngarewa-Parker said:
“I stand here as a descendant of a people who survived a holocaust, a genocide sponsored by this House and members of Parliament whose portraits still hang from the walls—members of this Parliament who sought our extermination and created legislation to achieve it. They confiscated all our whenua, imprisoned us without trial, murdered and raped our women and children, and deliberately engineered our displacement for generations to come. What William Fox, George Grey, John Bryce, and many others did to my people was unforgiveable. Fortunately, their one-generational plan was outlived by our forever-generational resolve: such is the strength of my whakapapa. But the trauma of what they did lives with us.” — Hansard
NZ Friends of Israel finds her comparison to the Nazi Holocaust of the 1930s and 1940s deeply troubling.
For her accusation to hold true, then the NZ governments of the day must have intentionally set out to and organised to build and operate an infrastructure to systematically incarcerate and eliminate all Maori from New Zealand. There is no historical evidence of such a plan or endeavour.
By using the Holocaust in such a way to dramatize her community’s historical pain and suffering, she diminishes the original Holocaust, causes more pain to those who have lost loved ones in the Nazi Holocaust, undermines her own credibility, promotes division in NZ society, distracts from her cause and potentially curses her followers to perpetual victimhood.
NZFOI
Full Text: Director of Prayer for Israel NZ farewell message to the Ambassador of Israel
On November 12, NZ Friends of Israel held a farewell reception for H.E. Excellency Ambassador Yitzhak Gerberg. One of the speakers was Michael Thomas , Director of Prayer of Israel New Zealand. Here is the full text of his address:
Greetings your Excellency,
My name is Michael Thomas, and my wife Teresa are honoured to be here tonight with you. Although we have only lived in New Zealand for three years, approximately 18 months ago, we were invited to become the directors of a Christian ministry called Prayer for Israel New Zealand.
This ministry was formed in 1981 by a wonderful Kiwi man, named Murray Dixon. Under his leadership, this ministry spread rapidly all over New Zealand… With literally dozens of groups springing up across the entire country of New Zealand. Today, no matter where my wife and I travel in New Zealand we are greeted by groups of individuals gathered together to regularly and fervently pray to the God of Israel for the people of Israel. You’ll find meetings throughout New Zealand that meet weekly, fortnightly or monthly… Typically for anywhere from 1/2 to 2 1/2 hours.
These groups are quite diverse from place to place and home to home. One tiny group outside of Palmerston North asked us to come and meet them. It’s a small group and they meet every Wednesday morning at 10:30 at the kitchen table. An Indian woman, two Kiwis, several Pacific Islanders, a Jamaican, a Filipino… And while we were there, they even had two Yankees.
Three weeks after meeting with them, we met a group of 60+ people in the town hall of Opitiki. Among these only four of us were “Pakehas” (non-Maori), the rest, of course, were Maori. And among them, a surprisingly large number were of Jewish descent. We gathered together for two hours to pray for Israel to the God of Israel. From every tongue tribe and nation, it seems that prayer for Israel is being poured out.
During lockdown, my wife and I introduced Zoom to nearly 250 people that ranged in age… People in their 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s & 90s… Most of these folks were not very technologically literate… But we worked with them, and they worked with us. The reason, was so that even during lockdown they wanted to meet together to pray for Israel. While most of these meetings were typically held fortnightly or monthly… Through the lockdown people were meeting weekly and often attended more than one meeting.
As we read in Psalm 122:6 “Shalu Shalom Yeerushalaim, “pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”
One of our joys in meeting and meeting some of these groups is encouraging them to close every meeting with the reading of the priestly blessing found in the sixth chapter of Bamidbar (or the book of Numbers).
So tonight, we would like to bless you as you and your family return to the Land.
Numbers 6:22-28
The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
Evareccha ADONAI vayish marecha
The Lord bless you and keep you;
Yaer Adonai panavalecha v’hunecha
the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
Isa adonai panavelecha, v’asemlecha shalom
the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace
[and we never forget this last verse…]
“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Go well, remember that there are always friends in New Zealand, and they are praying for you.
Thank you.
Full Text: Ambassador’s Farewell Address Nov 12
NZFOI: As many of our members and supporters were unable to attend the farewell gathering in Christchurch, here is the full text of the Ambassador’s address on November 12.
BEGINS
Dear Friends of Israel
Kia Ora and Shalom,
The highlight of the past few weeks was the peace agreement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Bahrain. This historic agreements named “Abraham Accord” represents a meaningful landmark and historic breakthrough combining forces and finding common ground in the Middle East has never been more urgent than now especially in the midst of a global pandemic.
The Abraham Accord is set to generate immediate results and is essential in order to create normalization as well as real peace and security in our chaotic region.
In fact this is a historic diplomatic breakthrough that will advance large scale collaboration while unlocking a great economic potential. For instance the Health Ministers of Israel and the UAE have already agreed to cooperate on healthcare issues, particularly covid19 and set up businesses and student exchange programs.
Emirati investment firms and Israeli Hi-tech companies already signed agreements on collaborations and joint research and development; together we all will gain from the expansion of trade and commercial ties in fields such as cyber security, clean energy, medicine, finance, communications, and agriculture.
I hope that the Abraham Accord will pave the way for more countries in the region to realize the vast potential that exists in peace. Unfortunately, the Palestinian do not support the Abraham Accord despite the fact that this could be a big opportunity for them and they continue refusing to recognize the state of Israel as the homeland of the Jewish people.
Additional key concern of the UAE and Bahrain, other Sunni countries and Israel is the common threat of Iran. Iran is a rogue country with nuclear ambition as well as hegemonic regional goal and therefore Israeli missile defence systems and Israeli cyber security are of interest to the Arab Sunni Gulf countries.
Make no mistakes Iran wants to wipe out the state of Israel and is deeply meddling in Lebanon Syria and Iraq with their proxy terror organizations. Israel is acting in self-defense and in compliance with international law against internationally recognized terror organizations.
Iran has lately exceeded the limits of 300 kg. enriched uranium, builds up advanced centrifuges, and is developing medium and long-range missiles that can strike Israel as well as other Arab Gulf states. Iran also continues to support the terrorist organizations of Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in the Gaza strip and lately ammunition nitrate that was stored by Hezbollah in Beirut caused two giant explosions killing hundreds of people.
The U.S. made a decision to enforce all previously ended sanctions on Iran (which is called snap-back sanctions). Israel supports those sanctions because we see it as a necessary tool against Iranian nuclear capability, aggression towards Israel as well as a threat they impose against peace in the Middle East, not to mention the human rights abuses that are regularly conducted in Iran.
Last year we saw further growth in anti-Semitism, anti-Israeli sentiment and de-legitimation of the State of Israel, which are all derived from antisemitism that was transformed into Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) against Israel.
Together we must fight antisemitism, racism, xenophobia and BDS against Israel.
On a more positive note I’m glad that the Arab Gulf countries have understood that Israel is not the problem in the Middle East but rather a prominent solution to the regional problems and we do expect other Arab countries like Oman, Kuwait, Morocco and Saudi Arabia to follow.
The challenges we – as well as the entire world – are facing today know no boundaries and it is essential that we combine our capabilities.
We call on all counties to voice their support for the “Abraham Accord”. Although New Zealand has not yet officially supported the “Abraham Accord”, has repeatedly failed to condemn terrorism against Israel and has not designated the military wings of Hezbollah and Hamas as a terrorist entities we certainly expect them to do so, not to mention the fact that the government has continued the pattern of imbalanced approach towards Israel in its voting record at the UN as it was demonstrated by New Zealand sponsorship of the anti-Israeli resolution 2334 and when N.Z. failed to take the opportunity to ensure that Hamas terrorism would be condemned at the UN.
On the other hand, there was a very positive development in our bilateral relationship when an agreement on technology and innovation was signed between New Zealand and Israel.
Israel and New Zealand enjoy friendly relations, these relations are based on common democratic values, friendship between people to people, the history of ANZAC in Israel during the first world war as well as mutual interests led by the idea that we need to transform our challenges into opportunities.
As you know, Israel is a hub of Hi-Tech and innovation with over one thousand one hundred and fifty start-ups based on artificial intelligence. I anticipate the collaboration between New Zealand and Israel in the fields of High-Tech, cyber security, advanced and precise agriculture, clean and renewed energy as well as adaptation to climate change, usage of drip irrigation, restoration of biodiversity, green houses with mitigation of gas emission, plant species with resistance to diseases, land rehabilitation, water management, reduction of water loss, food alternatives, storage and saving of agricultural products.
So the sky is the limit. I believe that this is the time that NZ opens an embassy in Israel and for that, we need your support.
I would like to use this opportunity and thank each and every one of you for your support, true friendship and concern towards Israel, that helps us fulfill the prophecy of prophet Ezekiel (chapter 36 verse 24) ” For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your home land”.
Last but not least – soon I will be leaving NZ back home to the holy land and I would like to thank you all for the friendship you have showed me and my wife. We had a great time in New Zealand, mainly because of your friendship.
Toda Raba, Tena koutou-Katoa and Kia Kaha,
God bless New Zealand,
God bless Israel and
God bless you all.
ENDS
Full Text: Anglican Bishop’s farewell message to Ambassador of Israel
Last Thursday we held a farewell reception for H.E. Ambassador of Israel, Yitzhak Gerberg and his wife Shifra.
Many of our members were unable to attend, so here is the full text of the Anglican Bishop of Christchurch Peter Carrell’s speech.
BEGINS
Your Excellency, Ambassador Gerberg and Shifra, your wife , the rangatira of Ngai Tahuriri, Mr Grant Close of the Christchurch Hebrew Congregation, and NZ Friends of Israel, greetings!
I am glad to be here tonight. As Anglican Bishop of Christchurch I believe I should be available to be with the NZ Friends of Israel just as I am available to meet with those outside the building who are demonstrating tonight. To be Anglican is to be inclusive.
Many years ago, in 1983, I made my first and so far only visit to Israel. It took place while I lived in Egypt for a year. It was a very memorable visit. This year, 2020, Teresa and I had hoped to visit Jerusalem for what would have been Teresa’s first visit and my second visit. Unfortunately Covid-19 put paid to that. Perhaps we will make it in 2022.
One of my memories of the 1983 visit is that one moment I could look up and see a farmer making his way down the road driving a tractor – just as if I was back in Canterbury – and the next moment I could look up on a hillside and see shepherds as though I was back in the days of the Bible.
I visited Israel out of my interest as a Christian and because of my study of the Bible.
Israel’s story is a shared Jewish and Christian story. Together we share sacred scriptures, the writings which are known as The Tanakh. We have a shared commitment to the well-being of Jerusalem as the holy city of God and a shared commitment to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. And we share a commitment to peace between nations and to justice between communities.
Nevertheless there are and have been testing moments in the shared history between Christians and Jews as well as tragedy and trauma through the Holocaust. A Christian commitment to Israel is a commitment to never again have such trauma and tragedy visited against the Jewish people.
Your Excellency, I wish you and your wife well as you leave these shores. As you know, there are two Promised Lands in the world, and New Zealand is one of them. You leave one Promised Land to go to the other. You are always welcome back.
ENDS
NZFOI full speech from Farewell Reception for Israeli Ambassador
NZFOI held a farewell reception for the H.E. Ambassador of Israel, Dr Itzhak Gerberg last night.
The event was well attended but guests needed to listen carefully as we also attracted a gathering of protesters, who attempted to disrupt proceedings with loud megaphones.
Guest speakers included Grant Close, of the Canterbury Hebrew Congregation; the Anglican Bishop of Christchurch, the Rt Rev Peter Carrell; Willy Fraser, Willy Tau and Tiraroa Reuben of Ngai Tahu; and Michael and Teresa Thomas of Prayer for Israel.
Thanks to everyone who supported the event. Many who attended reported that it was “moving,” “pleasurable,” and “a delight.”
The full text of our address may be downloaded from here.
Maori-Israeli Ties Strengthened | Times of Israel
During the recent Covid 19 lockdown, a small hui (meeting) was held in Northland between members of the Ngāpuhi iwi (tribe) and outgoing Israeli Ambassador, HE Dr Itzhak Gerberg and his wife Shifra. This was the culmination of a number of engagements with Ngāpuhi, in the time that Ambassador Gerberg has been in New Zealand.
The beginning of Gerberg’s appointment in New Zealand was marred by New Zealand’s role in co-sponsoring UNSC Resolution 2334. He was recalled to Israel in a diplomatic spat that lasted several months.
Upon the ambassador’s return, Ngāpuhi kaumatua (elder), Pat Ruka felt compelled to organise a special powhiri (welcome ceremony) for him. Joined by many Māori from around the nation, a moving ceremony of apology, called a whakapāha was held at Hoani Waititi Marae (meeting house) in West Auckland. Its purpose was to express regret for New Zealand’s actions in standing against Israel at the UN and to seek forgiveness.
