Israeli attacks earn NZ ire

By AUDREY YOUNG

Foreign Minister Phil Goff has sharply criticised Israel's retaliation against Palestine for suicide bombings.

He met Israeli Ambassador Ruth Kahanoff last Friday, he told Parliament yesterday.

He had told her that New Zealand condemned Palestinian acts of terrorism that killed innocent people - 29 in suicide bombings in two weeks - and that Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat had to act against those Palestinians responsible.

"However I also raised with her the concern that the nature of the retaliation by Israel would simply perpetuate the ongoing cycle of violence in the region.

"I questioned whether Israel's response in a number of areas was counter-productive to the goal of a lasting peace.

"Israel has effectively given extremist organisations like Hamas a veto over peace negotiations by demanding that all terrorist attacks cease before the peace negotiations can take place."

The killing of innocent Palestinian civilians by the Israeli military also served to undermine Mr Arafat and increase popular support for Hamas.

He also said it was counter-productive when Israel was demanding a crackdown by the Palestinian Authority to bomb the very Palestinian police stations and kill the very Palestinian police officers who were required to take that action.

In the past week, Israeli troops have killed four Palestinian police officers, two children and bombed a building used by Mr Arafat's bodyguards.

Feature: Middle East

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