PSNA has requested an urgent meeting with Police
Commissioner Richard Chambers, appealing for cohesive police
action against an escalating spate of attacks by Israeli
followers, against Palestinians and Palestinian rights
supporters, around the country.
Palestinian Solidarity
Network Aotearoa says a rock was hurled through the window
of well-known New Plymouth activists Kate and Grant Cole
last week.
PSNA Co-Chair Maher Nazzal says attacks
from Zionist backers have become more frequent and dangerous
over the past year.
“In the case of the Coles, the
rock through their window was just the latest in a series of
targeted attacks on them and their
property.”
“They have twice endured spraypainted
Israeli flags on their fence. Their car tyres were slashed
on four different occasions. They had vile lies about them
delivered in letterboxes around their
neighbourhood.”
“This time, it was a rock flung
through their window with the message “Snap Action –
REQ” attached.”
Nazzal says local police have
failed to take these attacks seriously and instead have
suggested to the Coles they should spend a lot of money on
security systems.”
Nazzal says attacks on activists
were increasing even before Trump’s failed “ceasefire
agreement” for Gaza was signed on 10 October.
“The
pro-Israel lobby is upset their side has failed to keep the
genocide in Gaza completely out of public view. They have
lost the debate. Poll responses show New Zealanders register
two to one that New Zealand should sanction Israel for
genocide and recognise a Palestinian
state.”
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“Israelis and Israel’s supporters are
taking their shock and frustration out on Palestine
solidarity activists” says Nazzal.
“In the past
couple of weeks alone, two women activists were stalked
after a protest in Auckland. There was spray painting and
vandalism of PSNA Co-Chair John Minto’s home, an assault
on a supporter by an ex-IDF soldier in Auckland and attacks
on our supporters in Napier.”
“In contrast, the
police have been vigorous in investigating and prosecuting
anyone they believed to have been acting for Palestinian
rights, such as the broken window at Foreign Minister
Winston Peters’ home and an assault on an Israeli soldier
holidaying here.”
“In the latter case, the police
responded to direct
pressure from the Israeli Embassy in Wellington and
launched a criminal investigation. Police declared the
attack was a ‘hate crime’ against Israelis and argued
for bail to be refused. Bail was refused and the attacker
received an unprecedented 28-month jail sentence for a
first-time assault”.
“The police are keen to pull
out all the stops for the Israeli Embassy to defend Israeli
soldiers fresh from a genocide in Gaza but can’t find the
time to take attacks on Palestinians and Palestinian
supporters seriously.”
“With some notable
exceptions by individual police offers, the rule seems to
be, ‘hit an Israeli and it’s reported as a hate crime
and you go to jail. But hit a Palestine supporter and police
look the other way”, Nazzal says.
“The Israeli
government is furiously feeding political and media claims
of Palestinian rights supporters being motivated by
anti-semitism. It’s working for Israel, especially in the
UK and Australia.”
“I suspect that pro-Israel
fanatics everywhere feel justified and licenced to respond
to these spurious and diversionary anti-semitism claims, by
attacking people.”
“Even when prosecutions of
violent behaviour have taken place and attacks proven, New
Zealand judges have excused Israeli supporters’ thuggery
with no conviction entered.”
“We have had enough
of this double standard, which starts with the police and
ends with the courts” say Nazzal. “We want serious
police action to curb these cowardly thugs who attack our
supporters.”
