Posted on 07/16/2004 9:23:19 PM PDT by Piefloater
The Palestine Human Rights Campaign is calling for other nations to support Helen Clark's condemnation of Israel.
The Prime Minister has all but severed diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv after two Israeli men, thought to be government spies, were jailed for passport fraud.
Campaign spokesman David Wakim says it is a long time since any government has spoken out against Israel in such a forceful way, but he says now the international community should wake up to what Israel is doing and follow suit.
He claims the Israeli government is completely disrespectful of international law or borders, and the world community has to rein it in.
David Wakim says Israel should be told to comply with its international obligations or face sanctions.
Meantime, suggestions the two suspected Mossad spies will appeal their six-month jail sentence have been laughed at by Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff.
Alleged Mossad spies Uri Kelman and Eli Cara have denied links with Israel's intelligence services, but Mr Goff says the evidence against the two men was overwhelming, which is why they pleaded guilty to the charges.
He says the value of New Zealand passports, which the spies tried to illegally obtain, cannot be underestimated.
Mr Goff says if the world thought Israeli agents were using New Zealand passports it would make life more difficult for New Zealanders with legitimate documents.
He says the Israeli Government has to acknowledge its agents carried out criminal acts in New Zealand and apologise for allowing it to happen.
The Government is being accused of helping deny the two Israelis a fair trial.
Before their case even got to court, reports surfaced in the media they were Israeli spies. Their lawyer Grant Illingworth says this prejudiced their right to a fair trial.
He says the Ministry of Foreign Affairs must have had a role in leaking the information.
Grant Illingworth says the allegations gave his clients little prospect of having their case heard in front of an impartial jury.
He says they therefore had no choice but to make a guilty plea.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry is surprised by the strength of the New Zealand Government's response to the conviction of two of their nationals.
Prime Minister Helen Clark is seeking an apology from the Israeli government and has suspended high level meetings until it comes.
A request for Israel's head of state President Moshe Katsav to visit New Zealand next month, as part of his visit to Australia, has been turned down.
In addition, Israelis coming to New Zealand on diplomatic business must now obtain visas.
And Australia has stepped into the diplomatic row that has erupted between the New Zealand and Israeli governments.
Helen Clark has suspended all top level contacts with Israel.
Australian Prime Minister John Howard has offered his hand to mend the rift.
He says he is sorry the row has happened, and he will think about acting as a mediator to get the New Zealand - Israel relationship patched up.
Mr Howard says while he does not want to involve himself in other people's affairs, he has good relations with the leaders of both countries.
"New Zealand cannot be trusted in the War on Terror just like they could not be trusted in the Cold War after a certain time. The sheep overbreed when they have no natural enemies. They will find their wolves."
My wife will be retiring next year, and we had planned for years to go to NZ each year after New Year's to spend a couple of nice Summer months, fly fishing and just living on the ocean coastal areas.
It will be a cold day in Hell before we do that. I see no difference in the bitch in charge of NZ than ChIraq.
We have stopped buying NZ lamb and wouldn't drink one of their wines if it was given to us, let alone buy a bottle of NZ wine.
,,, Klark's government isn't blazing the double standards trail with this particular incident. There's a track record that will see her out next election.
And yet, Bob Dylan still shows up at DemocRAT ralley, despite their pro-Palestinian candidates.
It infuriates me that so many countries think that Muslim immigrants will be the answer to their problems.
,,, there's no shortage of immigrants from Zim and South Africa in New Zealand.
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