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→ 8 December 2017
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NZ Friends of Israel applauds US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital

Jerusalem

NZ Friends of Israel applauds the President Donald Trump’s announcement that the United States will officially recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital and that the US embassy will be moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.

The recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital is an acknowledgement of Israel’s historical and cultural ties to the city and also the modern day reality.  Jerusalem has been the seat of the Israeli government since 1949.  The State of Israel annexed East Jerusalem and it has been under Israeli law, jurisdiction and administration since 1967.

This decision finally fulfils the intentions of Congress which passed the Israeli Embassy Act in 1995, requiring that the embassy be moved to Jerusalem.  Apart from President Trump, every president since then has avoided obeying this law by signing national security waivers. 

“President Trump’s announcement firmly rebuts the recently passed UNESCO and UN General Assembly resolutions which sought to undermine Israel’s authority to govern Jerusalem,” says Tony Kan, President of the NZ Friends of Israel. 

“New Zealand is out of step with reality in supporting these resolutions.”

“It is about time that Israel’s connection to the city which spans thousands of years is finally acknowledged.  Arab calls that the move will derail the peace process are absurd because there is no observable peace process in play.  Repeated attempts to convince the Arab Palestinians to enter negotiations have failed, while Israel has frequently confirmed its willingness to talk.” 

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→ 13 November 2017
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“Whose Land?” DVD

On Sunday, NZFOI held the Christchurch premier for Hugh Kitson’s highly informative documentary “Whose Land? Part I”.

Hugh’s documentary covers the history behind the Balfour Declaration and why it continues to have authority in International Law today.

Part I covers its history until the 1948 War of Independence.

Unfortunately we quickly sold out of the DVDs, if you want one we are arranging for a special shipment.

If you’d like a copy, email us at contact@nzfoi.org with your quantity, and delivery address, they are $25 + $5 p&p.  Delivery within New Zealand only.

Payment can be made via

Internet banking:

Bank:  Bank of New Zealand
Account Name:  NZ Friends of Israel Association Inc
Account Number:  02 0820 0569411 000
Code: LAND DVD
Reference: [your surname]
Or
Post us a Cheque, together with your quantity required and delivery details in the mail:
NZ Friends of Israel Association Inc
Box 37 363
Halswell
Christchurch
New Zealand 8245
Thanks in advance.
Filed Under: Announcements
→ 5 September 2017
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Peter Gaspar Holocaust Survivor Talk video now available


On September 3, Peter Gaspar a survivor of the Terezin Concentration Camp gave his moving story at the Villa Maria College Auditorium, to a full house.

Many expressed their disappointment that they were unavailable to attend the talk.  Fortunately we recorded this moving event and here is the video.

In 1942, 40 of his family were rounded up and sent to Auschwitz, never to return.  Peter survived the war by going into hiding. Along with his parents, Peter was hidden for three years and then during the last six months,

Peter and his mother were interned in the Terezin Concentration Camp. His father was enslaved at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp and was forced to endure the 248 km Death March to Lubeck in the Winter of 1944/1945.

This was the camp where the Germans printed counterfeit British currency and conducted medical experiments. The family found refuge in Australia in 1949.

His parents were never the same again.  His mother never stopped grieving for her lost family and felt deep guilt for surviving.

Peter currently volunteers with the Courage to Care program in Melbourne inspiring young people to be more accepting and tolerant. This year he will also be travelling to schools throughout New Zealand, through the HOPE Project.

Many thanks to Mikaela Hood for her volunteering Villa Maria College as a venue and to David Allan for recording the video.

 

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→ 16 June 2017
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NZ FRIENDS OF ISRAEL APPLAUDS RESTORATION OF DIPLOMATIC TIES

Thursday, 15 June 2017, 1:48 pm
Press Release: NZ Friends Of Israel

CHRISTCHURCH, NEW ZEALAND 15 June 2017

The NZ Friends of Israel Association (NZFOI) applauds the restoration of diplomatic ties between New Zealand and Israel.

Diplomatic ties were broken after New Zealand co-sponsored a UN resolution opposing Israeli settlement activity in Judea and Samaria (the West Bank). Israel responded by withdrawing its Ambassador to New Zealand.

While Andrew Little might say that many were proud of New Zealand’s move to co-sponsor UN Security Council Resolution 2334, many other New Zealanders were ashamed and disappointed.

There is no doubt that the resolution harmed the relationship between the two countries.

However, it has made the issue front and centre in our relationship. We hear that the dispute has resulted in robust discussions between our respective officials.

Most probably, those discussions will have meant that both countries will have learnt more about each other and what each other thinks about the issue.

Both nations have many common values. Both nations value democracy, freedom of information and speech, an independent media, the rule of law and equality under that law, and most of all, both countries desire justice. That must be a good platform from which to work together on finding a solution to the settlements and the disputed territories.

We suspect that there is a disconnect between New Zealand perceptions of what is going on there and the reality.

Perhaps this dispute will mean that we will be prepared to commit more resources to send officials over there to observe first-hand the situation, being careful to maintain a detached neutrality.

If that results in a better and deeper understanding of the situation and each other, then perhaps our governments will have moved the issue forward and to help bring about a sustainable solution.

The relationship between Israel and New Zealand is long and deep. Our country was one of the ones who voted for the establishment of Israel in the UN back in 1948. Today our relationship spans many levels across business ties, diplomatic ties and social ties.

Hundreds of Israelis travel through New Zealand every year. They come to enjoy our outdoors and many enjoy the hospitality of our homestays. Through them, many New Zealanders have developed long-standing friendships with Israelis.

Re-establishing diplomatic ties means that our two governments can fully cooperate on the commemoration of the Sinai and Palestine Campaigns of World War I, where hundreds of our ANZAC soldiers fought and gave their lives to bring freedom to that region. Now, their sacrifice can be properly honoured.

NZFOI Association Inc is a registered charity formed to fight prejudice and intolerance through raising awareness of Jewish history and culture. Sadly, Jewish history is marked by prejudice, intolerance and persecution. New Zealand has a fast-growing multicultural society and so their history has universal lessons for New Zealand communities. Many conflate events in the Middle East with Jews elsewhere in the world. Consequently, reports of violence against Jews, their buildings and facilities and desecration of burial sites often rise during periods of Arab-Israeli conflict.

© Scoop Media

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→ 12 June 2017
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Battle of Beersheba Centenary

When: 31 October 2017 Time: 9 a.m.

Where: Beersheba War Cemetery, Be’er Sheva, Israel

Registration update – Australia and New Zealand Service at Beersheba War Cemetery and the New Zealand Service at Tel Sheva – 31 October 2017

New Zealanders registering for passes to attend the Australia and New Zealand Service and the New Zealand Service are currently informed that they are waitlisted. Additional New Zealand passes will be made available and we are confident that all New Zealanders currently on the waitlist will receive passes to the commemorations.

New Zealanders who haven’t registered and are planning to attend Battle of Beersheba commemorations in Israel are encouraged to register at https://overseascommemorations.ticketek.com.au/. All New Zealanders are encouraged to register with Safetravel once their travel details are confirmed at www.safetravel.govt.nz

On 31 October New Zealand and Australia will conduct a commemoration to mark the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Beersheba at the Beersheba War Cemetery in Be’er Sheva, Israel.

A New Zealand commemoration will be held at Tel el Saba at 2 p.m. Tel el Saba is approximately 5 kilometres east of Be’er Sheva. This mound was New Zealand’s objective in the Battle of Beersheba. The Australians supported the New Zealand Mounted Rifles attack in 1917, but the Tel was captured by the Auckland Mounted Regiment. The elevated Tel site is uninhabited and well preserved because it is a National Park with UNESCO World Heritage status due to the bibilical wells and ruins located there. Rising 20 metres above the surrounding area, the site provides a clear view across farm land to the Anzac approach route and the New Zealand Mounted Rifles attack onto Tel el Saba.

Read more

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→ 21 April 2017
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AUCKLAND: Yom HaShoah service

You’re invited to a memorial service to be held at the Auckland Hebrew Congregation, 108 Greys Avenue, on April 23, 7pm.

Following the ceremony, there will be a 30 minute talk by Shoah survivor Inge Auerbacher of New York, who will share their experience for those who wish to stay.

Filed Under: Announcements
→ 13 March 2017
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Gerard van Bohemen: NZ on the Security Council: The insider’s view speaking tour

Folks

You are invited to attend the following presentation by Gerard van Bohemen, NZ’s ambassador to the UN

Ambassador Gerard van Bohemen will discuss New Zealand’s recently completed two-year term on the UN Security Council. Gerard led the New Zealand team in New York during this once in a generation opportunity for our country; he will focus on what it was like operating inside the Council, the challenges, the achievements and the disappointments.

In this “view from within” account, Gerard will provide an insider’s perspective of what operating in the Council – and behind its closed doors – was like, how New Zealand sought to influence the way in which the Council goes about its business and some of the less visible gains New Zealand made along the way.

This is your chance to ask some searching questions about Resolution 2334:

  • Why did NZ not just exercise a vote to support the resolution, and instead decided to take the role of co-sponsor?
  • Were NZ’s motives behind the resolution based on a strategy to build stronger relations with potential trade partners such as Iran?
  • Does NZ realise that it has harmed the relationship between our two countries?
  • Has NZ noticed that many countries who voted for the resolution, have since sought to distance themselves from it?
  • What is NZ doing about rebuilding the relationship?

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

Gerard van Bohemen is New Zealand’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations. He led New Zealand’s Mission to the United Nations in New York during New Zealand’s two-year term as a non- permanent member of the Security Council ( 2015-2016).

Prior to his role as Permanent Representative, he was Deputy Secretary at the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, responsible for Multilateral and Legal Affairs. In this role, he oversaw the Ministry’s Consular Division, Environment Division, International Security and Disarmament Division, Legal Division, and United Nations, Human Rights & Commonwealth Division.

ITINERARY

WELLINGTON:  Wednesday, March 15, 5:40pm:  GBLT1, Old Government Buildings (Behind Law School), Victoria University, 55 Lambton Quay

CHRISTCHURCH: Thursday March 16, 5pm, Arts Lecture Theatre A4, University of Canterbury.  See map.

HAVELOCK NORTH CLUB, March 17, 2pm.

Filed Under: Announcements
→ 22 February 2017
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Welcome to the NZFOI Online Shop

As part of NZFOI’s mission to fight prejudice and intolerance, we believe that reading widely about Jewish history and culture can help to fill the void of knowledge that would otherwise be filled by myths and conspiracy theories.

Over time, we have noticed that there are misunderstandings about Jews and Christians and so there are many books included in this shop that address various facets of Judaism and Christianity from various perspectives.

We already operate a lending library from our Christchurch branch.  Often we are asked where many of the materials held by our library can be purchased.

We have brought many of the most popular items in our library into an online shop.  From here anyone can see them and acquire them for themselves or to give away.

Popular authors include:

  • Alan Dershowitz
  • Elie Wiesel
  • Martin Gilbert
  • Chaim Potok
  • Abraham Joshua Heschel
  • Brad H Young

Popular titles include:

  • A history of Israel:  Martin Gilbert’s absorbing survey of Israel’s history.
  • Above and Beyond:  A documentary of the US fighter pilots who had to overcome threats to their citizenship and military blockade to fight in Israel’s 1948 War of Indepencdence.
  • Lincoln and the Jews
  • Churchill and the Jews
  • Israel Matters
  • The Book Thief

When you go through the shopping cart, you’ll notice that Amazon.com handles the payments and fulfilments for nearly all the products in the shop.  This way you can have confidence that your orders are being securely processed.

Be assured that you are not paying any more than what you would be paying if you bought from Amazon directly.  However, if you choose to purchase through our “shop”, a small margin of the purchase price (4%), is donated to NZFOI.  All prices are in USD.

Click here to go directly to the shop.

PS.  Thanks for bearing with the occasional technical hiccups. We’re still figuring out how we imported soap powder and perfumes into the shop! Fortunately they were able to be deleted quickly.

PPS.  Since we are trying to bring disparate groups together with diverse understandings of themselves as much as each other, just because a publication is listed in the shop, it does not mean that NZFOI endorses those views.

Filed Under: Announcements
→ 14 February 2017
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Past newsletters now available

Folks

We’re pleased to announce that all our past newsletters are now available for download here.  They are at the bottom of the page.

Filed Under: Announcements
→ 10 February 2017
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ANZAC Israel Centenary 1917-2017

The ANZAC Memorial in the Negev, Israel

In 2017 we mark the centenary of ANZAC Israel. NZFOI will be running monthly articles on aspects of the campaign and there will be a dedicated section on the NZFOI website to expand your knowledge of the campaign, highlight events, talks and tour options. 2017 is a very busy year for tourism in Israel with other key anniversaries including the Jubilee 50th anniversary of the liberation of Jerusalem on May 14th (May 2nd on Israeli Calendar).

During the year there will be events and lectures on the campaign and its significance around NZ and some collaboration with Australia. (See ww100.govt.nz website). It will be a time to remind the public of the 246 NZ servicemen who gave their lives for that nation and are buried over there cementing the connection between our two nations and the huge numbers of defence personnel who have served on six month rotations as peacekeepers in the Sinai since 1982 as part of the MFO (Multinational Force and Observers) and on the Lebanese border under the UN banner. To find the names of the WWI soldiers and where they are buried go to Commonwealth War Graves (CWG) website site http://www.cwgc.org/find-a-cemetery.aspx and type in Israel.

People wanting books to read can consult Devils on Horseback by Liet Col. Terry Kinloch or The official 1922 campaign history written by Lieut Col. C Guy Powles which can be found at http:/nzetc.victoria.ac.nz/tm/scholarly/tei-WH1-Sina-tl-body-dl.html or in your local library.

Filed Under: Announcements, Resources
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