Government's restraint on Israeli actions could prove costly

Saturday Jan 03, 2009
By Fran O'Sullivan (NZ Herald)

John Key's new National Government has carefully - but quietly - dispatched with its predecessor's past record of loudly beating up on Israel whenever it retaliates against the tiny Middle East country's naked aggressors.

But the Key Government runs the risk that unless it steps up its advocacy for an immediate and urgent ceasefire for humanitarian reasons, it will be seen to have abdicated New Zealand's moral leadership in international affairs. On the international issue du jour - Israel's military assault against the Hamas leaders' Gaza stronghold - Foreign Minister Murray McCully has been notably restrained.

No official press releases have been issued under the imprimatur of the New Zealand Government.

Just simply a few bland words by McCully to newswire agencies lamenting the Gaza strip onslaught and endorsing the United Nations' call for an immediate ceasefire. Notably, his words were devoid of the usual harsh condemnatory judgments against Israel that had become a trademark of the Clark Government.

National's newly pragmatic stance will be welcomed by traditional allies such as Britain, Australia and the United States.

The political leadership of such countries used to look askance when Helen Clark and her former foreign minister, Phil Goff, took to their megaphones against Israel, even when justified, as with the attempt by alleged Mossad-related agents to steal New Zealand passport identities.

Not surprisingly, Clark's own position was forthright. In a Labour Party press release, Clark - now her party's foreign affairs spokeswoman - endorsed the UN Security Council's call for a ceasefire. Like McCully - who labelled the Israeli attacks a "day of tragedy" - she also lamented the loss of life in Gaza as "horrific".

But while McCully said it was "pointless" to fingerpoint about who was responsible or debate what was a "proportionate versus disproportionate" response, Clark was categorical: "While Hamas rocket attacks on Israel can never be condoned and have been provocative, nonetheless Israel has further jeopardised the security of its own people through its disproportionate use of force in retaliation."

Now the issue of Key's own leanings have been raised by those that say National is copping out because the Prime Minister - whose late mother was an Austrian Jew - is more sympathetic to Israel's position.

National's fellow travellers have already complained of bigotry after a Herald "letter to the editor" writer made the linkage between Key's Jewishness and the Government's new stance.

It is a nonsense to allege bigotry in this instance.

In a multitude of post-election articles in Israeli and Jewish newspapers elsewhere, there had been a clear expectation that the advent of the Key Government would lead to a more "balanced" relationship between Israel and New Zealand.

The Jewish community has publicly singled out several National Cabinet ministers who are "friendly to Israel": Key himself, McCully, Tim Groser, Jonathan Coleman, Wayne Mapp and Attorney-General Chris Finlayson.

In a letter to Key congratulating him on his elevation to the prime ministership, the American Jewish committee noted an interview he gave to the Jerusalem Post which it interpreted as a signal a new page would now be turned in New Zealand-Israel relations.

In another article, NZ-Israel Trade Association chief executive Mike Nathan said he expected the new National-led Government would be more pro-peace and less interested in the deploring of Israeli acts of self-defence.

"I think we are less likely to see National snuggle up to non-aligned countries, as Clark's Government did, and I think a National Government will not necessarily follow the pattern of voting against Israel on United Nations resolutions," Nathan was reported as saying.

Key himself has promoted this new closeness in comments he has made directly to the New Zealand Jewish groups where they talk about him as "almost becoming the pin-up boy for the Jewish community".

The only fear from local Jewish leaders was that Key might feel he had to play to a "deep anti-Jewish, anti-Israel sentiment" within New Zealand, by proving he was not biased towards Israel.

The New Zealand Government's Gaza reaction shows that particular fear was misplaced.

But the situation is becoming more complex as the local temperature is raised.

NZ peace groups are now calling for a boycott against Israel and the Palestinian Human Rights campaign has sent an open letter to Key and McCully calling on them to "declare your positions of principle regarding Israel's military occupation of Palestinian land".

So far, there has been no official response.

The traditional Christmas/New Year holiday period is an easy excuse. But British PM Gordon Brown is not asleep on this issue, neither is Australian Acting PM Julia Gillard who has pledged an extra A$5 million ($6 million) aid to help Palestinians get access to food and medical supplies.

New Zealand has been urged to follow suit - but so far nothing has eventuated...

This is not a good look - but one which is quickly remedied.