Government wrong to stop Israeli's visit, says Act

Act MP Ken Shirley has accused the Government of creating further unnecessary tension with Israel by refusing to allow an Israeli major-general to visit New Zealand.

Deputy Chief of Staff Gabi Ashkenazi was refused a visa for a one-day stay because of the freeze on high-level contact announced after the arrest of two Israeli agents on passport fraud charges.

General Ashkenazi had been invited to speak at a private function of the Jewish community in Auckland last Sunday.

Mr Shirley said the Government's policy, adopted last July, was to deny entry only to Israeli citizens on official business.

"This was clearly not the case in this instance," he said.

"Mr Ashkenazi was invited to New Zealand by the United Israel Appeal to address an invitation-only meeting ... This was a fundraising event for a home for disadvantaged children in Israel."

The Government's move had created unnecessary tension and breached fundamental civil liberties, Mr Shirley said.

"The message that Labour is sending out is that Israeli citizens aren't welcome in this country, whereas [Foreign Minister] Phil Goff is happy to strut the world stage holding hands with [the late Palestinian leader] Yasser Arafat."

Mr Goff told Parliament yesterday that the stay on visits by high-level Israeli officials would remain until the passport issue was resolved.

"If the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Israeli Army is not a high-level visit, then perhaps the member would like to explain to the House what it is," he said.

Alleged Mossad agents Uri Kelman and Eli Cara were convicted of trying to fraudulently obtain New Zealand passports. They were deported in September after serving two months of their six-month prison sentences.

The Government imposed a range of diplomatic sanctions against Israel, including delaying approval for the appointment of a new Israeli ambassador and freezing high-level military and political contact.

Mr Goff said the Israeli Government had approached the New Zealand Government over the latter's requirement that it apologise and give an assurance there would not be a repeat.

"We are hopeful of progress being made towards the resolution of these issues so that this unfortunate matter can be put behind us," he said.

The president of the Jewish Council, David Zwartz, told National Radio there was a long history of the Jewish community inviting speakers from overseas to fundraising events.

"I think it's unfortunate that the Government is applying its guidelines on a matter of diplomatic difference between Israel and New Zealand in a way that punishes the New Zealand Jewish community."

- NZPA