Israelis snubbed by Governtment over violence

By FRANCESCA MOLD

The Government boycotted an official celebration of the 54th anniversary of the birth of the state of Israel as a protest against Israel's failure to withdraw military forces from the West Bank.

Foreign Minister Phil Goff revealed the political snub in response to questions yesterday from National MP Jenny Shipley about whether the Government was maintaining an even-handed approach to the conflict in the Middle East.

He said the decision not to attend the function on Wednesday was deliberate.

"We didn't feel it was appropriate a minister should attend on this occasion," Mr Goff said later. "This should be seen as a reprimand by the Government to aspects of the policy Israel is carrying out that we don't regard as acceptable."

The minister said there had been nothing to stop backbench MPs attending and a protocol officer from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade had been present.

Asked whether the gesture was a bit unfriendly, he said: "It's somewhat less unfriendly than some of the things happening to people on the West Bank at the moment."

The snub follows a meeting between Mr Goff and Israeli Ambassador Ruth Kahanoff on Monday, during which the Foreign Minister expressed the Government's objection to the military occupation.

The ambassador said the action was necessary to catch terrorists and Israel wanted to withdraw as soon as possible.

But Mr Goff said Israel had ignored United Nations resolutions on the issue. He was particularly concerned by reports of Israeli soldiers firing at journalists and refusing to allow aid workers to carry out humanitarian work. "I can't condone these sorts of things any more than I can condone the actions of the fanatics who send suicide bombers into Israel, which I do sympathise with [the Israelis] over."

Mr Goff said the Government was not "pro-Palestinian" but was anti-violence. It opposed those who killed innocent civilians deliberately or carelessly, something of which both sides were guilty.

Mr Goff said he was a long-standing supporter of Israel but could not condone the continuing settlement of occupied lands and Israel's "disproportionate" military response, which would only entrench the bitterness and hatred between the two sides.

The Alliance will host the Palestinians' official Australasian representative, Ali Kazak, in New Zealand next week. He will speak at the Alliance national council and at two public meetings.

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