thedailyblog--2020-02-08--‘Peace to Prosperity’ plan imposes total Zionist control, denies all Palestinian human rights and vi

‘Peace to Prosperity’ plan imposes total Zionist control, denies all Palestinian human rights and violates international law

Trump and Netanyahu ’ s so-called ‘ Peace to Prosperity ’ plan ignores the Palestinian right to self-determination , 1967 borders , international humanitarian law and a stream of United Nations Security Council resolutions , including UNSCR 2334 , which New Zealand helped to bring forward in 2016 .
The Resolution was passed in the UN by 14-0 , with even the UK voting in favour and the isolated US obdurately abstaining .
The greatest political threat to global peace and stability today is the wanton undermining , by great power interests , of universally recognised rules-based international relations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deeply humanitarian Fourth Geneva Convention .
Resolution 2334 reminds us that Israel ’ s belligerently-imposed , exclusively Jewish civilian settlements , established on Palestinian land , are violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention .
Zionist ideology isolates Israel from reason , the world community and commonsense ; a glaring example of which is the Israel lobby ’ s description of the Palestinian land upon which it enforces its undeniably foreign military Occupation as “ disputed ” .
Israel ’ s argument in this regard was rejected by the International Court of Justice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s one-sidedness is meant to mislead , with references to what it terms Palestinian ‘ violence ’ repeated , out of context , over and over again , yet with no recognition whatsoever of Israel ’ s overwhelming daily violence and population-control methods practised on Palestinians .
Because of mainstream news media complicity , their daily headlines and commentary only occasionally ever mention the relentless Israeli violence in Palestine , let alone the frequent air strikes !
Daily news and statistics regarding the violence Palestinians are forced to live under are reported , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Palestine daily newsletter , sourced and compiled for easy reading and correlation chiefly from the Palestinian Monitoring Group ’ s daily situation reports .
The In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter continues to be received and made use of worldwide , to subscribers only , as it has been for the past two decades .
Many recipients choose to forward them still further , providing a valuable counter to Zionist propaganda .
It wasn ’ t until 15 January that four missiles were fired across the Green Line from Gaza .
That Palestinian missile @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on three separate days , towards the end of the month .
On 30 January , Gaza ’ s Resistance fighters also opened fire on an Israeli Army position in al-Farahin , behind the Green Line .
The Palestinian missile-firings were clearly an outraged response to 37 persistent Israeli Gaza ceasefire violations up to and including 14 January .
On the day of the first Palestinian missile firings , Israel hit Gaza with four air strikes , two Navy attacks on Palestinian fishing boats and four Army assaults on Gaza farmland .
In @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Khuza ’ a , Khan Yunis , also came under attack from beyond the Green Line .
By the end of the day Israel had committed 11 ceasefire violations , bringing its total for the month until then to 48 .
By the last day of January , the total number of Israeli Gaza ceasefire violations totalled 139 compared with 7 ( two of which targeted the Israeli military ) from Palestinian Resistance factions .
The population in Gaza , however , suffered five deaths at the hands of the Israeli military in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ aged 15 .
While Israeli propaganda claims its border with Gaza is under constant threat , the Israeli Army makes incursions , at will , into Gaza .
Israeli warplanes have total freedom of movement over a territory that has no means of aerial defence whatsoever .
Of course , it is not only Gaza that is terrorised by Israel .
The daily toll of malevolent Israeli Army population control and Occupation settler violence inflicted , daily , brings nothing but total misery upon all Palestinians living under belligerent military Occupation .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ In Occupied Palestine ( IOP ) daily newsletters .
Here are just a few of the accounts taken from those IOP newsletters covering the month of January : Jerusalem – 09:05 , Israeli troops destroyed two homes in the Silwan neighbourhood .
Jerusalem – Israeli forces seized five tent dwellings , as well as a water pipeline .
Tubas – 14:35-16:30 , Israeli forces raided Khirbeit Atouf village , dismantled three tent dwellings and seized possession of a water conservation tank , as well as the three tent dwellings .
Jerusalem – 13:30 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ officers invaded the Bab Al-Rahma prayer area in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted worshippers , forcibly pepper-spraying them and forcing them out of the mosque .
Nablus – dawn , Israeli forces raided the eastern neighbourhoods of Nablus City , searched a steel mill and plundered the property of equipment .
Hebron – 12:00 , Israeli forces seized a motor vehicle equipped with tools , emergency devices and medication belonging to the Palestinian Ministry of Health , and detained a doctor , Firas Abu Ali , as well as two other people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Nablus – 21:15 , Israeli soldiers abducted three minors , Hassan Husam Azmi Oshibi ( 16 ) , Muhammad Azzam Oshibi ( 16 ) and Asem Hatem , Asim Darwish ( 17 ) , near Salem village road junction .
Hebron – 18:20 , Israeli troops abducted two minors , Khaled Jasser Al Sharif ( 14 ) and Ahmad Muhammad Dalloul ( 17 ) , at the entrance to the al-Arrub UN refugee camp .
Bethlehem – the Israeli Army robbed a resident of Nahalin , Mahmoud Ahmad Suwad , of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a home .
Bethlehem – the Israeli Army seized land for itself in the Wadi Al-Hindi area of Jorat al-Sham ’ a village .
Jenin – 00:20-01:50 , Israeli forces , firing rubber-coated steel bullets , stun grenades and tear gas canisters , raided Jenin , the Jenin UN refugee camp and Jalqamus village , searching several homes , plundering a steel mill and taking prisoner three people : Rushdi Subhi Al-Bath and his sons , Uday and Mohammad .
Hebron – 03:25 , Israeli forces raided the al-Arrub UN refugee camp , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ youths : Ahmed Hassouna al-Badawi and Muhammad Ahmad al-Jabri .
The soldiers also robbed a refugee in the camp , Amjad Jawabir , of 2,000 NIS ( US $ 500 ) .
Jerusalem – the Israeli Government approved plans for the construction of 1150 settlement units , the first stage of planning procedures which include a plan to build 786 housing units in Ramallah and 180 in the Mitzpeh Dani settlement , as well as 147 in the Mitzpeh Jericho settlement , 107 in the Alon Moreh settlement , 100 in the Neve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ colony in Salfit .
Nablus – Israelis from the Rahalim Occupation settlement in al-Sawiya village felled 50 privately-owned olive trees in the village area of al-Wad .
Nablus – Israeli forces , firing stun grenades and tear gas canisters , supported Israelis from the Yitzhar Occupation settlement who were invading Madma village agricultural land and stoning villagers ‘ homes .
Bethlehem – the Israeli Army ordered the seizure of land in the districts of Baqoush , Khillet Thaher al-Ain , Thaghrat Hamad , a-Shaghaf , Zuqindih , Ain Qassis and Shush ’ halat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of al-Khadr and Irtas .
The land was seized for the building of a settlement bypass road .
Bethlehem – the Israeli Army destroyed a tent dwelling and a mobile home in Beit Jallah .
Hebron – 09:10 , Israeli forces destroyed the foundations of a school under construction in north-east Yatta .
Hebron – 23:00 , a gang of Israeli Occupation settlers raided the Old City Jaber neighbourhood and attacked several homes , throwing stones and glass bottles , and yelling racist abuse at residents .
Jerusalem – the Israeli Occupation issued @ @ @ @ @ @ @ preacher , Akrama Sabri , Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Authority in Jerusalem , from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for a week .
Jerusalem – the Israeli Occupation issued orders , banning two residents , Ahmad Ghazalat and Moath Idris , from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque , for a period of five months , as a condition of their release from captivity .
Jerusalem – 09:00 , settler militants , escorted by Israeli police , invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and molested worshippers .
Bethlehem – 23:20 , Israeli soldiers , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and hospitalised a 15-year-old boy : Marouf Ahmad Al-Atrash .
Jerusalem – dawn , Israeli police , firing rubber-coated steel bullets , stun grenades and tear gas canisters , invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound , pursuing and assaulting worshippers during dawn prayers .
Jerusalem – dawn , Israeli settlers set fire to the Shuafat Mosque in Beit Safafa village and spray-painted race-hate messages on the mosque walls , while the Israeli Army sealed off the mosque and prevented worshippers from entering .
Nablus – 02:05-05:00 , the Israeli Army raided Burqa village and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ them , the householder , Mohammad Faleh Daghlas , was robbed of cash to the value of 5,000 NIS ( US $ 1,200 ) .
In another home , one person was taken prisoner and , in another , Maen Nureldin Al-Sha ’ er was ordered to report to Israeli Intelligence for interrogation .
Qalqiliya – 17:55 , a gang of Israeli Occupation settlers invaded Jit village farmland and felled several olive trees , bulldozed more land and installed a mobile home on another privately-owned piece of land .
Nablus – 17:00 , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ invaded al-Sawiya farmland , stoning and hospitalising a farmer , Mohammad Hamad Khalil ( 62 ) , and his son , Nizar , at work on their land .
Nablus – dawn , Zionist militants from the Yitzhar Israeli Occupation set fire to a classroom at the village boys ’ secondary school , and spray-painted racist messages on the school walls .
Ramallah – 13:50 , northern entrance to al-Bireh : rubber-coated steel bullets , stun grenades and tear gas canisters .
Five people wounded , including a 16-year-old youth : Ameen Abdel-Kareem @ @ @ @ @ @ @ were several tear gas casualties .
Hebron – evening , the Israeli Army , firing stun grenades and tear gas canisters at people and homes in Beit Ummar , caused seven tear-gas casualties , including a child , when a tear gas canister exploded inside the home of Ahmad Mahmoud Al-Alami .
Ramallah – 13:10 , Israeli forces , in east al-Bireh , firing rubber-coated steel bullets , stun grenades and tear gas canisters , abducted a 14-year-old boy , Wissam Al-Qadi , and wounded three youngsters : Mohammad Muneeb Abdul Rahman Maridi @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Musabeh ( 15 ) and Mohammad Naeem Hadeda ( 16 ) .
Hebron – 08:30 , Israeli forces , firing rubber-coated steel bullets , stun grenades and tear gas canisters at the entrance to the al-Arrub UN refugee camp , targeted residents , including schoolchildren , critically wounding one person , Ayman Abdel-Rahman Yacoub , taking prisoner three others and causing tear gas casualties .
Ramallah – an Israeli settler shot , wounded and hospitalised a resident of Safa village , Saed Hussien Falnat , near the Beit Sira military checkpoint .
Hebron @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Israeli troops , firing stun grenades and tear gas canisters , abducted two children : Abdullah Fahd Ibrahim Uda Sabarna ( 12 ) and Hamza Sameeh Issa Bahr ( 14 ) .
Jerusalem – dawn , Israeli police , firing rubber-coated steel bullets , stun grenades and tear gas canisters , invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during dawn prayers , wounding and hospitalising ten worshippers .
Khan Yunis – Israeli forces opened fire on protesters in Khan Yunis , wounding nine people .
Tubas – 12:50 , the Israeli Army fired rubber-coated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ gas canisters at people in Khirbet Atouf village who were protesting against the “ Deal of the Century ” .
Several people were beaten and at least five wounded and taken away by ambulance .
Several more became tear gas casualties .
The five wounded were identified as : Saeed Hamed Abu Ahmad , Fawaz Daraghmeh , Moataz Sarmah Marwah , Abdel-Jalil Rasmi Bisharat and Ramah Halal Al-Din Qtishat .
Nablus – 13:30 , Israel Occupation settler militants raided farmland on the outskirts of the village of Madama , throwing stones and smashing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ villager : Ahmad Khalil al-Qat .
The Israeli Army , firing rubber-coated steel bullets , stun grenades and tear gas canisters , arrived to support the settlers as the villagers began to try to defend themselves and their property , wounding three villagers .
Nablus – a gang from the Shafi Shamron Israeli Occupation settlement invaded Sebastia village farmland , uprooted newly-planted olive seedlings and destroyed the protective wall around them .
Towards the end of the 1990s , while “ surfing ” the Internet , I discovered the Palestinian Monitoring Group ‘ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concerning the whole of Occupied Palestine .
It seemed to be the only daily account of the Israeli Occupation ’ s daily toll on Palestinian life , limb , liberty and property , to counter the almost complete lack of such news from the mainstream news media .
That was how I began compiling and emailing , on behalf of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign in Auckland , the In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter .
News rapidly spread about the IOP ’ s availability and our list of subscribers has kept growing .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ website ( sadly now defunct ) , each newsletter was also posted and archived , which meant it was more easily accessible globally .
The In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter continues to be circulated worldwide but just by email , to subscribers only , as it has been over the last two decades .
Please contact lesliebravery @ icloud.com if you also wish to become a subscriber .
Israel wishes the world to consider security as its own unique right , one not applicable to the militarily Occupied , segregated and defenceless Palestinian @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Counterpunch on 3 February , quotes from the Zionist plan : Upon signing the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Agreement , the State of Israel will maintain overriding security responsibility for the State of Palestine , with the aspiration that the Palestinians will be responsible for as much of their internal security as possible , subject to the provisions of this Vision .
It gets worse – in the plan there is no mention whatsoever of security for Palestine against external threats and it goes on to state : Should the State of Palestine fail to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Criteria at any time , the State of Israel will have the right to reverse the process outlined above .
The State of Israel ’ s security footprint in all or parts of the State of Palestine will then increase as a result of the State of Israel ’ s determination of its expanded security needs and the time needed to address them .
There is no vestige of humanity nor respect for Palestinians in Israel ’ s daily , criminal acts of oppression against them – the Zionist regime exhibits nothing but @ @ @ @ @ @ @ control .
Israel ’ s behaviour should be warning enough to the world that the ‘ Peace to Prosperity ’ plan is nothing but subterfuge to permanently gain the upper hand and wipe out all hope for the Palestinian people .
Have we learned nothing from history ?
Stuart Littlewood reminds us of Israel ’ s Plan Dalet , describing the proposed plan , he writes : “ The Zionist terror conspiracy to steal the land of Palestine is nearing its bizarre climax.
” The Palestinian people have most certainly not been consulted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ deal ’ yet the UK seems to have come down on the side of the US and Israel in apparent approval of the Netanyahu/Trump plan .
Will the present New Zealand Government unequivocally reject it and stand by Resolution 2334 ?
The endangered worldwide perception of international law and defence of universal human rights and justice desperately needs progressive governments to declare their unconditional and unwavering support .

Trump and Netanyahu’s so-called ‘Peace to Prosperity’ plan ignores the Palestinian right to self-determination, 1967 borders, international humanitarian law and a stream of United Nations Security Council resolutions, including UNSCR 2334, which New Zealand helped to bring forward in 2016. The Resolution was passed in the UN by 14-0, with even the UK voting in favour and the isolated US obdurately abstaining.
The greatest political threat to global peace and stability today is the wanton undermining, by great power interests, of universally recognised rules-based international relations, particularly those established by international law and the deeply humanitarian Fourth Geneva Convention. Resolution 2334 reminds us that Israel’s belligerently-imposed, exclusively Jewish civilian settlements, established on Palestinian land, are violations of the Fourth Geneva Convention. Zionist ideology isolates Israel from reason, the world community and commonsense; a glaring example of which is the Israel lobby’s description of the Palestinian land upon which it enforces its undeniably foreign military Occupation as “disputed”. Israel’s argument in this regard was rejected by the International Court of Justice in 2004.
The Zionist plan’s one-sidedness is meant to mislead, with references to what it terms Palestinian ‘violence’ repeated, out of context, over and over again, yet with no recognition whatsoever of Israel’s overwhelming daily violence and population-control methods practised on Palestinians.
Because of mainstream news media complicity, their daily headlines and commentary only occasionally ever mention the relentless Israeli violence in Palestine, let alone the frequent air strikes! Daily news and statistics regarding the violence Palestinians are forced to live under are reported, however, in the emailed In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter, sourced and compiled for easy reading and correlation chiefly from the Palestinian Monitoring Group’s daily situation reports. The In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter continues to be received and made use of worldwide, to subscribers only, as it has been for the past two decades. Many recipients choose to forward them still further, providing a valuable counter to Zionist propaganda.
January 2020 in Palestine
It wasn’t until 15 January that four missiles were fired across the Green Line from Gaza. That Palestinian missile attack was followed by three others, on three separate days, towards the end of the month. On 30 January, Gaza’s Resistance fighters also opened fire on an Israeli Army position in al-Farahin, behind the Green Line. The Palestinian missile-firings were clearly an outraged response to 37 persistent Israeli Gaza ceasefire violations up to and including 14 January.
On the day of the first Palestinian missile firings, Israel hit Gaza with four air strikes, two Navy attacks on Palestinian fishing boats and four Army assaults on Gaza farmland. In addition, the Gaza community in east Khuza’a, Khan Yunis, also came under attack from beyond the Green Line. By the end of the day Israel had committed 11 ceasefire violations, bringing its total for the month until then to 48.
By the last day of January, the total number of Israeli Gaza ceasefire violations totalled 139 compared with 7 (two of which targeted the Israeli military) from Palestinian Resistance factions. The population in Gaza, however, suffered five deaths at the hands of the Israeli military in January, the youngest of which was aged 15. While Israeli propaganda claims its border with Gaza is under constant threat, the Israeli Army makes incursions, at will, into Gaza. Israeli warplanes have total freedom of movement over a territory that has no means of aerial defence whatsoever.
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Of course, it is not only Gaza that is terrorised by Israel. The daily toll of malevolent Israeli Army population control and Occupation settler violence inflicted, daily, brings nothing but total misery upon all Palestinians living under belligerent military Occupation. The relentless horror is documented regularly in the In Occupied Palestine (IOP) daily newsletters. Here are just a few of the accounts taken from those IOP newsletters covering the month of January:
Home invasions – homes destroyed: Jerusalem – 09:05, Israeli troops destroyed two homes in the Silwan neighbourhood.
Home invasions – tent dwellings and water pipeline seized: Jerusalem – Israeli forces seized five tent dwellings, as well as a water pipeline.
Home invasions – tent dwellings and water tank seized: Tubas – 14:35-16:30, Israeli forces raided Khirbeit Atouf village, dismantled three tent dwellings and seized possession of a water conservation tank, as well as the three tent dwellings.
Israeli Army mosque violation and population control: Jerusalem – 13:30 and again at 19:00, Israeli police officers invaded the Bab Al-Rahma prayer area in the Al-Aqsa Mosque and assaulted worshippers, forcibly pepper-spraying them and forcing them out of the mosque.
Israeli Army plunder: Nablus – dawn, Israeli forces raided the eastern neighbourhoods of Nablus City, searched a steel mill and plundered the property of equipment.
Israeli Army robbery and population control: Hebron – 12:00, Israeli forces seized a motor vehicle equipped with tools, emergency devices and medication belonging to the Palestinian Ministry of Health, and detained a doctor, Firas Abu Ali, as well as two other people who were providing medical services in the area.
Israeli Army abductions: Nablus – 21:15, Israeli soldiers abducted three minors, Hassan Husam Azmi Oshibi (16), Muhammad Azzam Oshibi (16) and Asem Hatem, Asim Darwish (17), near Salem village road junction.
Israeli Army abductions: Hebron – 18:20, Israeli troops abducted two minors, Khaled Jasser Al Sharif (14) and Ahmad Muhammad Dalloul (17), at the entrance to the al-Arrub UN refugee camp.
Israeli Army armed robbery – population control: Bethlehem – the Israeli Army robbed a resident of Nahalin, Mahmoud Ahmad Suwad, of a concrete pump he was using to build a home.
Israeli Army land grab: Bethlehem – the Israeli Army seized land for itself in the Wadi Al-Hindi area of Jorat al-Sham’a village.
Home invasions in UN refugee camp – plunder: Jenin – 00:20-01:50, Israeli forces, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters, raided Jenin, the Jenin UN refugee camp and Jalqamus village, searching several homes, plundering a steel mill and taking prisoner three people: Rushdi Subhi Al-Bath and his sons, Uday and Mohammad.
Home invasions – abductions and armed robbery in UN refugee camp: Hebron – 03:25, Israeli forces raided the al-Arrub UN refugee camp, searched several homes and abducted two 16-year-old youths: Ahmed Hassouna al-Badawi and Muhammad Ahmad al-Jabri. The soldiers also robbed a refugee in the camp, Amjad Jawabir, of 2,000 NIS (US$500).
Settlement development: Jerusalem – the Israeli Government approved plans for the construction of 1150 settlement units, the first stage of planning procedures which include a plan to build 786 housing units in Ramallah and 180 in the Mitzpeh Dani settlement, as well as 147 in the Mitzpeh Jericho settlement, 107 in the Alon Moreh settlement, 100 in the Neve Tesuf settlement and 40 in the Bedouin colony in Salfit.
Occupation settler agricultural sabotage: Nablus – Israelis from the Rahalim Occupation settlement in al-Sawiya village felled 50 privately-owned olive trees in the village area of al-Wad.
Israeli Army abductions – aged 13 and 15: Jerusalem – evening, Israeli soldiers abducted two children: Mohammad Abu Qalbin, aged 13 and Mohammad Al-Himi, aged 15.
Occupation settler violence – supported by Israeli Army stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Nablus – Israeli forces, firing stun grenades and tear gas canisters, supported Israelis from the Yitzhar Occupation settlement who were invading Madma village agricultural land and stoning villagers‘ homes.
Israeli Army land theft: Bethlehem – the Israeli Army ordered the seizure of land in the districts of Baqoush, Khillet Thaher al-Ain, Thaghrat Hamad, a-Shaghaf, Zuqindih, Ain Qassis and Shush’halat, as well as the al-Rajim areas of al-Khadr and Irtas. The land was seized for the building of a settlement bypass road.
Home invasion – 2 homes destroyed: Bethlehem – the Israeli Army destroyed a tent dwelling and a mobile home in Beit Jallah.
Israeli Army vandalism and sabotage of Palestinian eduction: Hebron – 09:10, Israeli forces destroyed the foundations of a school under construction in north-east Yatta.
Occupation settler violence: Hebron – 23:00, a gang of Israeli Occupation settlers raided the Old City Jaber neighbourhood and attacked several homes, throwing stones and glass bottles, and yelling racist abuse at residents.
Israeli Occupation population control and mosque violation: Jerusalem – the Israeli Occupation issued an order, banning an Al-Aqsa Mosque preacher, Akrama Sabri, Chairman of the Supreme Islamic Authority in Jerusalem, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound for a week.
Israeli Occupation population control and mosque violation: Jerusalem – the Israeli Occupation issued orders, banning two residents, Ahmad Ghazalat and Moath Idris, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque, for a period of five months, as a condition of their release from captivity.
Israeli Occupation population control and mosque violation: Jerusalem – 09:00, settler militants, escorted by Israeli police, invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and molested worshippers.
Israeli Army – boy (15) beaten and hospitalised: Bethlehem – 23:20, Israeli soldiers, at the Container military checkpoint, beat up and hospitalised a 15-year-old boy: Marouf Ahmad Al-Atrash.
Israeli police mosque violation – rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Jerusalem – dawn, Israeli police, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters, invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, pursuing and assaulting worshippers during dawn prayers.
Occupation settlers – racist arson attack on mosque: Jerusalem – dawn, Israeli settlers set fire to the Shuafat Mosque in Beit Safafa village and spray-painted race-hate messages on the mosque walls, while the Israeli Army sealed off the mosque and prevented worshippers from entering.
Home invasions and armed robbery: Nablus – 02:05-05:00, the Israeli Army raided Burqa village and searched several homes. In one of them, the householder, Mohammad Faleh Daghlas, was robbed of cash to the value of 5,000 NIS(US$1,200). In another home, one person was taken prisoner and, in another, Maen Nureldin Al-Sha’er was ordered to report to Israeli Intelligence for interrogation.
Occupation settler violence and agricultural sabotage: Qalqiliya – 17:55, a gang of Israeli Occupation settlers invaded Jit village farmland and felled several olive trees, bulldozed more land and installed a mobile home on another privately-owned piece of land.
Occupation settler violence and hospitalisation – and agricultural sabotage: Nablus – 17:00, militants from the Rahalim Israeli Occupation settlement invaded al-Sawiya farmland, stoning and hospitalising a farmer, Mohammad Hamad Khalil (62), and his son, Nizar, at work on their land.
Occupation settler racist arson attack on Palestinian school: Nablus – dawn, Zionist militants from the Yitzhar Israeli Occupation set fire to a classroom at the village boys’ secondary school, and spray-painted racist messages on the school walls.
Israeli Army – pharmacy destroyed: Jerusalem – Israeli forces destroyed a pharmacy in the Wadi al-Jouz neighbourhood.
Israeli Army – 5 wounded, including youngster – rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Ramallah – 13:50, northern entrance to al-Bireh: rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters. Five people wounded, including a 16-year-old youth: Ameen Abdel-Kareem Abu Al-Rub. In addition, there were several tear gas casualties.
Tear-gas casualties inside family home: Hebron – evening, the Israeli Army, firing stun grenades and tear gas canisters at people and homes in Beit Ummar, caused seven tear-gas casualties, including a child, when a tear gas canister exploded inside the home of Ahmad Mahmoud Al-Alami.
Israeli Army abductions – youngsters wounded – rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Ramallah – 13:10, Israeli forces, in east al-Bireh, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters, abducted a 14-year-old boy, Wissam Al-Qadi, and wounded three youngsters: Mohammad Muneeb Abdul Rahman Maridi (16), Haitham Wajih Mohammad Musabeh (15) and Mohammad Naeem Hadeda (16).
Israeli Army – critical wounding – UN refugee camp – rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Hebron – 08:30, Israeli forces, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters at the entrance to the al-Arrub UN refugee camp, targeted residents, including schoolchildren, critically wounding one person, Ayman Abdel-Rahman Yacoub, taking prisoner three others and causing tear gas casualties.
Occupation settler violence – shooting and hospitalisation: Ramallah – an Israeli settler shot, wounded and hospitalised a resident of Safa village, Saed Hussien Falnat, near the Beit Sira military checkpoint.
Israeli Army – 2 children abducted – rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters: Hebron – evening, al-Thaher, Beit Ummar. Israeli troops, firing stun grenades and tear gas canisters, abducted two children: Abdullah Fahd Ibrahim Uda Sabarna (12) and Hamza Sameeh Issa Bahr (14).
Israeli Army – 2 more children abducted: Hebron – 14:50, Israeli soldiers abducted two 15-year-old refugees: Nasser Hassan Muhammad Jawabreh and Qusay Bassam Abu Hashhash.
Israeli police mosque violation – 10 worshippers wounded and hospitalised: Jerusalem – dawn, Israeli police, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters, invaded the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound during dawn prayers, wounding and hospitalising ten worshippers.
Ceasefire violation – Israeli Army live fire – 9 wounded: Khan Yunis – Israeli forces opened fire on protesters in Khan Yunis, wounding nine people.
Israeli Army violence – 5 wounded – rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters fired at protesters: Tubas – 12:50, the Israeli Army fired rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters at people in Khirbet Atouf village who were protesting against the “Deal of the Century”. Several people were beaten and at least five wounded and taken away by ambulance. Several more became tear gas casualties. The five wounded were identified as: Saeed Hamed Abu Ahmad, Fawaz Daraghmeh, Moataz Sarmah Marwah, Abdel-Jalil Rasmi Bisharat and Ramah Halal Al-Din Qtishat.
Occupation settlers and Israeli Army violence – 3 villagers wounded: Nablus – 13:30, Israel Occupation settler militants raided farmland on the outskirts of the village of Madama, throwing stones and smashing the windows of the home of a villager: Ahmad Khalil al-Qat. The Israeli Army, firing rubber-coated steel bullets, stun grenades and tear gas canisters, arrived to support the settlers as the villagers began to try to defend themselves and their property, wounding three villagers.
Occupation settler vandalism and agricultural sabotage: Nablus – a gang from the Shafi Shamron Israeli Occupation settlement invaded Sebastia village farmland, uprooted newly-planted olive seedlings and destroyed the protective wall around them.
Revealing the daily reality
Towards the end of the 1990s, while “surfing” the Internet, I discovered the Palestinian Monitoring Group‘s daily situation reports (sitreps) concerning the whole of Occupied Palestine. It seemed to be the only daily account of the Israeli Occupation’s daily toll on Palestinian life, limb, liberty and property, to counter the almost complete lack of such news from the mainstream news media. That was how I began compiling and emailing, on behalf of the Palestine Human Rights Campaign in Auckland, the In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter. News rapidly spread about the IOP’s availability and our list of subscribers has kept growing.
Whenever the PHRC had a properly functioning website (sadly now defunct), each newsletter was also posted and archived, which meant it was more easily accessible globally. The In Occupied Palestine daily newsletter continues to be circulated worldwide but just by email, to subscribers only, as it has been over the last two decades. Please contact lesliebravery@icloud.com if you also wish to become a subscriber.
No security for Palestine
Israel wishes the world to consider security as its own unique right, one not applicable to the militarily Occupied, segregated and defenceless Palestinian people. Sheldon Richman, writing in Counterpunch on 3 February, quotes from the Zionist plan:
Upon signing the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Agreement, the State of Israel will maintain overriding security responsibility for the State of Palestine, with the aspiration that the Palestinians will be responsible for as much of their internal security as possible, subject to the provisions of this Vision.
It gets worse – in the plan there is no mention whatsoever of security for Palestine against external threats and it goes on to state:
Should the State of Palestine fail to meet all or any of the Security Criteria at any time, the State of Israel will have the right to reverse the process outlined above. The State of Israel’s security footprint in all or parts of the State of Palestine will then increase as a result of the State of Israel’s determination of its expanded security needs and the time needed to address them.
There is no vestige of humanity nor respect for Palestinians in Israel’s daily, criminal acts of oppression against them – the Zionist regime exhibits nothing but vile contempt towards those it wishes to control. Israel’s behaviour should be warning enough to the world that the ‘Peace to Prosperity’ plan is nothing but subterfuge to permanently gain the upper hand and wipe out all hope for the Palestinian people. Have we learned nothing from history? Stuart Littlewood reminds us of Israel’s Plan Dalet, describing the proposed plan, he writes: “The Zionist terror conspiracy to steal the land of Palestine is nearing its bizarre climax.”
The Palestinian people have most certainly not been consulted in the contriving of this contemptuous so-called ‘deal’ yet the UK seems to have come down on the side of the US and Israel in apparent approval of the Netanyahu/Trump plan. Will the present New Zealand Government unequivocally reject it and stand by Resolution 2334? The endangered worldwide perception of international law and defence of universal human rights and justice desperately needs progressive governments to declare their unconditional and unwavering support.


thedailyblog--2020-02-10--Both RNZ Concert and Youth Radio – Not Either/Or.

MARTYN BRADBURY believes in radio .
He ’ s been an advocate of an FM frequency dedicated to 18-35-year-old New Zealanders since at least the 1990s .
That he should welcome RNZ ’ s announcement that a new , state-funded , youth radio station has been green-lighted is only to be expected .
Equally to be anticipated , however , is the outcry from listeners and supporters of RNZ Concert .
What else did RNZ ’ s Paul Thompson expect when he rejected the ‘ both/and ’ approach in favour of ‘ either/or ’ ?
By sacking not only RNZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its producers and librarians , and reducing the station to an automated purveyor of classical music in-between parliamentary broadcasts , RNZ ’ s CEO , Paul Thompson , wasn ’ t simply announcing an operational shake-up , he was declaring war on one of the most important guardians of New Zealand ’ s cultural traditions .
There can be no doubt that he knew what he was doing .
The ice-cold way in which he and his co-conspirator , RNZ ’ s Music Content Director , Willy Macalister , are said to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of RNZ Concert , strongly suggests that they were all-too-aware of the serious consequences of their decision .
That they would come under instantaneous and heavy fire from the artistic community and its political defenders must have been anticipated .
Which suggests strongly that crossing swords with the likes of Helen Clark , Chris Finlayson , Sir Michael Cullen , Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Sam Neil had already been accepted as the necessary cost of doing business .
But , accepted by whom ?
The RNZ Board ?
The Minister of Broadcasting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Arts & Heritage – and Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern ?
Were all of these people really on-board with Thompson ’ s and Macalister ’ s decision ?
Had they all been fully informed of RNZ ’ s senior managers ’ intention to gut RNZ Concert ?
Were they all as keyed-up as the leading protagonists for the inevitable backlash ?
Were all of them truly willing accessories-before-the-fact to what Sir Michael Cullen described as “ cultural vandalism ” ?
It would seem not .
On this morning ’ s edition of RNZ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Minister coolly set forth her understanding of what had taken place .
It seems that her Broadcasting Minister , upon being informed of Thompson and Macalister ’ s plans , reacted unenthusiastically .
All-too-aware of the likely consequences of establishing a youth-oriented station at RNZ Concert ’ s expense , he cautioned RNZ ’ s CEO against proceeding too hastily .
He asked Thompson for time to come up with a ‘ both/and ’ solution – specifically , by sorting out an additional FM frequency .
In her interview with Morning Report co-host @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be doing his best to frame in terms of intergenerational warfare and cultural elitism ) the Prime Minister made it icily clear that Thompson , by opting not to delay his announcement , had undermined Faafoi ’ s efforts to come up with an acceptable compromise .
Thompson must , surely , understand that , by setting forth the sequence of events in the way she did , the Prime Minister was telling him that he was now on his own .
The Government had offered to help him craft a solution and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to make it happen .
Is that really where Thompson intended to place himself ?
At odds with RNZ Concert ’ s listeners ?
At odds with the New Zealand artistic community ?
At odds with present and former Ministers of Arts & Heritage ?
( Jacinda made it very clear to RNZ ’ s listeners this morning that she , too , is looking for a ‘ both/and ’ resolution to this problem . )
Does he really think that his position is strengthened by causing a former prime minister to get @ @ @ @ @ @ @ minister ?
Did he not hear the implicit threat in Finance Minister Grant Robertson ’ s comment that he and his Cabinet colleagues would be investigating the matter further ?
Was he simply not aware that the Labour Party 2017 manifesto includes a rock-solid commitment to the preservation of RNZ Concert ?
It certainly makes you wonder , doesn ’ t it ?
Why RNZ ’ s CEO would choose this precise moment to unleash such a shitstorm upon his own head ?
After all , the RNZ Concert announcement was made just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced his plans for a possible merger of RNZ and TVNZ into a single state-owned broadcasting entity .
Pending the outcome of the necessarily lengthy feasibility study Faafoi has ordered , it would surely have made more sense to hold off on a decision as sensitive and consequential as gutting RNZ Concert ?
Was Thompson fearful that in any future merger his position would disappear ?
( A virtual certainty now ! )
Was he hoping the proposed 18-35 youth station would serve as a lasting personal legacy , and the destruction of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Concert ( a feat which others have attempted , and failed , to accomplish ) his greatest managerial triumph ?
It is to be hoped not .
Because how much more impressive it would have been for Thompson and Macalister to have set in motion a steady process of renovation and reconstruction in RNZ Concert , while simultaneously investigating the best way to attract a new and younger listenership to RNZ .
The promoters of New Zealand popular music have been struggling for the best part of 30 years to expand the state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ fulfil more generously the aims and objectives of its charter .
Preserving both the invaluable contribution of RNZ Concert to New Zealand ’ s classical musical traditions , and developing a new and vibrant platform for this country ’ s young cultural producers : now that would have been a legacy worth having .
Indeed , the way the politics of this debacle are unfolding , something like the above will be its ultimate legacy .
It just won ’ t be Paul Thompson ’ s or Willy Macalister ’ s legacy .

MARTYN BRADBURY believes in radio. He’s been an advocate of an FM frequency dedicated to 18-35-year-old New Zealanders since at least the 1990s. That he should welcome RNZ’s announcement that a new, state-funded, youth radio station has been green-lighted is only to be expected. Equally to be anticipated, however, is the outcry from listeners and supporters of RNZ Concert. What else did RNZ’s Paul Thompson expect when he rejected the ‘both/and’ approach in favour of ‘either/or’?
By sacking not only RNZ Concert’s presenters, but also its producers and librarians, and reducing the station to an automated purveyor of classical music in-between parliamentary broadcasts, RNZ’s CEO, Paul Thompson, wasn’t simply announcing an operational shake-up, he was declaring war on one of the most important guardians of New Zealand’s cultural traditions.
There can be no doubt that he knew what he was doing. The ice-cold way in which he and his co-conspirator, RNZ’s Music Content Director, Willy Macalister, are said to have delivered the news to the stunned staff of RNZ Concert, strongly suggests that they were all-too-aware of the serious consequences of their decision. That they would come under instantaneous and heavy fire from the artistic community and its political defenders must have been anticipated. Which suggests strongly that crossing swords with the likes of Helen Clark, Chris Finlayson, Sir Michael Cullen, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Sam Neil had already been accepted as the necessary cost of doing business.
But, accepted by whom? The RNZ Board? The Minister of Broadcasting, Kris Faafoi? The Minister of Arts & Heritage – and Prime Minister – Jacinda Ardern? Were all of these people really on-board with Thompson’s and Macalister’s decision? Had they all been fully informed of RNZ’s senior managers’ intention to gut RNZ Concert? Were they all as keyed-up as the leading protagonists for the inevitable backlash? Were all of them truly willing accessories-before-the-fact to what Sir Michael Cullen described as “cultural vandalism”?
It would seem not.
On this morning’s edition of RNZ’s Morning Report, the Prime Minister coolly set forth her understanding of what had taken place. It seems that her Broadcasting Minister, upon being informed of Thompson and Macalister’s plans, reacted unenthusiastically. All-too-aware of the likely consequences of establishing a youth-oriented station at RNZ Concert’s expense, he cautioned RNZ’s CEO against proceeding too hastily. He asked Thompson for time to come up with a ‘both/and’ solution – specifically, by sorting out an additional FM frequency. In her interview with Morning Report co-host Corin Dann (which Dann appeared to be doing his best to frame in terms of intergenerational warfare and cultural elitism) the Prime Minister made it icily clear that Thompson, by opting not to delay his announcement, had undermined Faafoi’s efforts to come up with an acceptable compromise.
Thompson must, surely, understand that, by setting forth the sequence of events in the way she did, the Prime Minister was telling him that he was now on his own. The Government had offered to help him craft a solution and he had denied them the time needed to make it happen. Is that really where Thompson intended to place himself? At odds with RNZ Concert’s listeners? At odds with the New Zealand artistic community? At odds with present and former Ministers of Arts & Heritage? (Jacinda made it very clear to RNZ’s listeners this morning that she, too, is looking for a ‘both/and’ resolution to this problem.) Does he really think that his position is strengthened by causing a former prime minister to get in the ear of a present prime minister? Did he not hear the implicit threat in Finance Minister Grant Robertson’s comment that he and his Cabinet colleagues would be investigating the matter further? Was he simply not aware that the Labour Party 2017 manifesto includes a rock-solid commitment to the preservation of RNZ Concert?
It certainly makes you wonder, doesn’t it? Why RNZ’s CEO would choose this precise moment to unleash such a shitstorm upon his own head? After all, the RNZ Concert announcement was made just 48 hours before the Broadcasting Minister formally announced his plans for a possible merger of RNZ and TVNZ into a single state-owned broadcasting entity. Pending the outcome of the necessarily lengthy feasibility study Faafoi has ordered, it would surely have made more sense to hold off on a decision as sensitive and consequential as gutting RNZ Concert?
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Was Thompson fearful that in any future merger his position would disappear? (A virtual certainty now!) Was he hoping the proposed 18-35 youth station would serve as a lasting personal legacy, and the destruction of the Baby Boomer elite’s RNZ Concert (a feat which others have attempted, and failed, to accomplish) his greatest managerial triumph? It is to be hoped not.
Because how much more impressive it would have been for Thompson and Macalister to have set in motion a steady process of renovation and reconstruction in RNZ Concert, while simultaneously investigating the best way to attract a new and younger listenership to RNZ. The promoters of New Zealand popular music have been struggling for the best part of 30 years to expand the state broadcaster’s cultural horizons and thereby fulfil more generously the aims and objectives of its charter. Preserving both the invaluable contribution of RNZ Concert to New Zealand’s classical musical traditions, and developing a new and vibrant platform for this country’s young cultural producers: now that would have been a legacy worth having.
Indeed, the way the politics of this debacle are unfolding, something like the above will be its ultimate legacy. It just won’t be Paul Thompson’s or Willy Macalister’s legacy.


thedailyblog--2020-02-13--Activists give Indonesian leader details of Papuan deaths, political prisoners

Pacific human rights activists have personally handed Indonesian President Joko Widodo a protest letter which includes a list of deaths and political prisoners in West Papua .
Written by West Papuan activists and signed by Greens leader Adam Bandt and Senator Richard Di Natale , the letter listed the names of 57 political prisoners charged with treason and held behind bars in seven cities across Indonesia , reports the community and indigenous radio The Wire .
The letter also included the names and ages of 243 civilians who have died during the Nduga military operation since December 2018 , 110 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WIRE : Letter given to President Widodo outlines West Papuan deaths “ These revelations ask the question of why President Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison would discuss economic ties and climate change , when human rights are at risk ?
” , The Wire asked .
Jokowi , as President Widodo is known , has been in Australia this week on a bilateral visit .
The president was handed details on West Papua ’ s civilian death toll and political prisoners by activists in a bid to urge an end to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was visiting the Federal Parliament in Canberra .
“ Our team in Canberra has managed to hand over letters to President Jokowi directly .
The letters include names and locations of 57 political prisoners charged with treason and held behind bars in seven cities across Indonesia , ” Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman said , reports The Jakarta Post .
Names listed “ We also listed the names and ages of 243 civilians who have died during the Nduga military operation since December 2018 .
“ At the beginning of his first @ @ @ @ @ @ @ five West Papuan political prisoners .
Indonesians and West Papuans alike saw the move as a new hope for West Papua .
“ But now , at the beginning of his second term , there are 57 people awaiting trial for treason , facing life imprisonment .
This route will only fuel further conflict , ” she said .
Koman said that the West Papuan governor , regents , church leaders , customary leaders , academics , activists and students had begged President Jokowi to withdraw troops from Nduga regency since December 2018 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
She said she hoped that Jokowi would halt the humanitarian crisis in the region as he now had the data , including the names of 110 dead children among the total of 243 people .
David Robie is convenor of Pacific Media Watch .
David also blogs at Cafe Pacific .

From Pacific Media Watch
Pacific human rights activists have personally handed Indonesian President Joko Widodo a protest letter which includes a list of deaths and political prisoners in West Papua.
Written by West Papuan activists and signed by Greens leader Adam Bandt and Senator Richard Di Natale, the letter listed the names of 57 political prisoners charged with treason and held behind bars in seven cities across Indonesia, reports the community and indigenous radio The Wire.
The letter also included the names and ages of 243 civilians who have died during the Nduga military operation since December 2018, 110 of them children.
LISTEN TO THE WIRE: Letter given to President Widodo outlines West Papuan deaths
“These revelations ask the question of why President Widodo and Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison would discuss economic ties and climate change, when human rights are at risk?”, The Wire asked.
Jokowi, as President Widodo is known, has been in Australia this week on a bilateral visit.
The president was handed details on West Papua’s civilian death toll and political prisoners by activists in a bid to urge an end to the political and humanitarian crisis while he was visiting the Federal Parliament in Canberra.
“Our team in Canberra has managed to hand over letters to President Jokowi directly. The letters include names and locations of 57 political prisoners charged with treason and held behind bars in seven cities across Indonesia,” Indonesian human rights lawyer Veronica Koman said, reports The Jakarta Post.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Names listed
“We also listed the names and ages of 243 civilians who have died during the Nduga military operation since December 2018.
“At the beginning of his first term in 2015, President Jokowi released five West Papuan political prisoners. Indonesians and West Papuans alike saw the move as a new hope for West Papua.
“But now, at the beginning of his second term, there are 57 people awaiting trial for treason, facing life imprisonment. This route will only fuel further conflict,” she said.
Koman said that the West Papuan governor, regents, church leaders, customary leaders, academics, activists and students had begged President Jokowi to withdraw troops from Nduga regency since December 2018, but the request had been ignored.
She said she hoped that Jokowi would halt the humanitarian crisis in the region as he now had the data, including the names of 110 dead children among the total of 243 people.
David Robie is convenor of Pacific Media Watch. David also blogs at Cafe Pacific.


Defining Issues

UNFOLDING , IN A WELLINGTON COURTROOM , is a drama which speaks directly to the defining issues of our time .
What is racism ?
How central is racial discrimination to the moral deficiencies of our society ?
What is Hate Speech ?
More importantly , what is the relationship between Hate Speech and Free Speech ?
And , lastly , what sanctions – if any – should be imposed upon those whose opinions give widespread offence ?
It is , of course , forbidden to comment upon the rights and wrongs of a trial in progress .
My apologies @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a right royal roasting of either the plaintiff , or the defendant , or both , in the matter of Sir Robert Jones versus Renae Maihi .
What can be observed of defamation cases in general , however , is that it is possible to be too protective of one ’ s good name .
A court of law is a fearsome and dangerous place for those unaccustomed to having their ideas and opinions publicly scrutinised and dissected by persons whose ability to marshal and present contrary evidence has been honed by years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is no off-switch in a courtroom .
Neither is it possible to turn the page in disgust .
Ill-formed and ill-defended opinions will be exposed ruthlessly and unapologetically .
As Shakespeare put it : “ Reputation is an idle and most false imposition ; oft got without merit , and lost without deserving.
” Sometimes the best course of action is to take no action at all .
Let us then turn , then , to the broader issues at play in that Wellington courtroom : Racism , Hate Speech , Free Speech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ wilful offensiveness .
Increasingly , in this country , as in other countries dominated by Europeans , racism is being viewed as the fundamental driver of social , economic and political injustice .
Fifty years ago this was not the case .
For most of the Twentieth Century , unequal class relations were deemed to be the primary cause of injustice .
With the demise of actually existing socialism , however , and the global triumph of neoliberal capitalism , class inequality has become , to paraphrase Lord Alfred Douglas : the lack @ @ @ @ @ @ @ name .
The neoliberal ruling-class , with considerable political finesse , has tapped into the energy once devoted to uplifting the working-class ( within whose ranks are many , many people of colour ) and diverted it into identifying and demanding atonement for the sins of slavery and colonisation committed by the ancestors of contemporary Europeans .
The process of elevating racism to the status of the West ’ s original and abiding sin was greatly assisted by the inspirational examples of Martin Luther King ’ s non-violent campaign for African-American civil rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s four-decades-long struggle against Apartheid .
The impact of these historical struggles on the indigenous victims of European colonialism was direct and enduring .
The development of Maori nationalism in New Zealand offers an excellent example of the process .
As the neoliberal experiment gathered momentum in Aotearoa , the formerly close ties between Maori , the traditional left and the trade unions were broken .
By the early 1990s , what Dr Elizabeth Rata has dubbed “ neo-tribal capitalism ” was rapidly transforming Maori nationalism into a vital political adjunct to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ working-class Maori and Pakeha making common cause against what was fast becoming a strategically bi-cultural ruling-class faded away , to be replaced by the new and rapidly expanding Maori middle-class ’ s scorn for the irredeemably racist redneckery of the Pakeha proletariat .
In this context , any unabashed expression of white racial chauvinism is almost always construed by Pakeha intellectuals as an unforgiveable affront to the state ’ s steadily evolving anti-racist and decolonisation projects .
For those Maori deeply embedded in these processes , however , such reiterations of white supremacist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ outburst reinforces the anti-racist and decolonisation critique and highlights the baked-in character of the colonisers ’ prejudices .
Why then condemn such racially charged outbursts as “ Hate Speech ” and seek to punish its purveyors ?
Surely , by constantly exposing their racism , white supremacists provide ongoing and invaluable confirmation of the decolonisers ’ moral deficiencies ?
This may well be true , but it ’ s also irrelevant .
The decolonisation process can only be advanced in an environment of hair-trigger outrage and demonstrable indigenous distress .
Racism must , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and wherever it raises its ugly head , and the offending and offensive racists held accountable for the harm they have inflicted .
It is , accordingly , entirely unsurprising that the liberal-democrats ’ passionate defence of the citizen ’ s right to freedom of expression is viewed as a serious obstacle to the success of the anti-racist and decolonisation projects .
At the core of the free speech argument is the proposition that every citizen is obliged to uphold the right of every other citizen – even those whose views fundamentally contradict @ @ @ @ @ @ @ express their opinions freely and without the fear of any retribution beyond their opponents ’ vigorous refutation .
The problems begin when the vigorous refutation of offensive speech is no longer considered sufficient .
When the paucity of intellect and the absence of evidence so obvious in the arguments put forward by the racially prejudiced cease to be the best reason for fair-minded people to reject not only the content of those arguments , but also the morally dubious claims of the people making them .
When the citizenry , in their confusing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to the task of determining the proper shape of their society and its future .
When the responsibilities of government are entrusted exclusively to those powerful enough to determine which opinions are “ correct ” .
And when those who deviate from such opinions are subjected to the full rigors of the law .
At that point , it is possible to give the problems a name .

UNFOLDING, IN A WELLINGTON COURTROOM, is a drama which speaks directly to the defining issues of our time. What is racism? How central is racial discrimination to the moral deficiencies of our society? What is Hate Speech? More importantly, what is the relationship between Hate Speech and Free Speech? And, lastly, what sanctions – if any – should be imposed upon those whose opinions give widespread offence?
It is, of course, forbidden to comment upon the rights and wrongs of a trial in progress. My apologies, then, to all those anticipating a right royal roasting of either the plaintiff, or the defendant, or both, in the matter of Sir Robert Jones versus Renae Maihi.
What can be observed of defamation cases in general, however, is that it is possible to be too protective of one’s good name. A court of law is a fearsome and dangerous place for those unaccustomed to having their ideas and opinions publicly scrutinised and dissected by persons whose ability to marshal and present contrary evidence has been honed by years of legal training and experience. There is no off-switch in a courtroom. Neither is it possible to turn the page in disgust. Ill-formed and ill-defended opinions will be exposed ruthlessly and unapologetically. As Shakespeare put it: “Reputation is an idle and most false imposition; oft got without merit, and lost without deserving.” Sometimes the best course of action is to take no action at all.
Let us then turn, then, to the broader issues at play in that Wellington courtroom: Racism, Hate Speech, Free Speech, and the most effective response to wilful offensiveness.
Increasingly, in this country, as in other countries dominated by Europeans, racism is being viewed as the fundamental driver of social, economic and political injustice. Fifty years ago this was not the case. For most of the Twentieth Century, unequal class relations were deemed to be the primary cause of injustice. With the demise of actually existing socialism, however, and the global triumph of neoliberal capitalism, class inequality has become, to paraphrase Lord Alfred Douglas: the lack of love that dare not speak its name.
The neoliberal ruling-class, with considerable political finesse, has tapped into the energy once devoted to uplifting the working-class (within whose ranks are many, many people of colour) and diverted it into identifying and demanding atonement for the sins of slavery and colonisation committed by the ancestors of contemporary Europeans. The process of elevating racism to the status of the West’s original and abiding sin was greatly assisted by the inspirational examples of Martin Luther King’s non-violent campaign for African-American civil rights, and the African National Congress’s four-decades-long struggle against Apartheid. The impact of these historical struggles on the indigenous victims of European colonialism was direct and enduring.
The development of Maori nationalism in New Zealand offers an excellent example of the process. As the neoliberal experiment gathered momentum in Aotearoa, the formerly close ties between Maori, the traditional left and the trade unions were broken. By the early 1990s, what Dr Elizabeth Rata has dubbed “neo-tribal capitalism” was rapidly transforming Maori nationalism into a vital political adjunct to the all-conquering neoliberal project. The nightmare of working-class Maori and Pakeha making common cause against what was fast becoming a strategically bi-cultural ruling-class faded away, to be replaced by the new and rapidly expanding Maori middle-class’s scorn for the irredeemably racist redneckery of the Pakeha proletariat.
In this context, any unabashed expression of white racial chauvinism is almost always construed by Pakeha intellectuals as an unforgiveable affront to the state’s steadily evolving anti-racist and decolonisation projects. For those Maori deeply embedded in these processes, however, such reiterations of white supremacist ideology are a godsend. Every such outburst reinforces the anti-racist and decolonisation critique and highlights the baked-in character of the colonisers’ prejudices.
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Why then condemn such racially charged outbursts as “Hate Speech” and seek to punish its purveyors? Surely, by constantly exposing their racism, white supremacists provide ongoing and invaluable confirmation of the decolonisers’ moral deficiencies? This may well be true, but it’s also irrelevant. The decolonisation process can only be advanced in an environment of hair-trigger outrage and demonstrable indigenous distress. Racism must, therefore, be confronted and condemned whenever and wherever it raises its ugly head, and the offending and offensive racists held accountable for the harm they have inflicted.
It is, accordingly, entirely unsurprising that the liberal-democrats’ passionate defence of the citizen’s right to freedom of expression is viewed as a serious obstacle to the success of the anti-racist and decolonisation projects. At the core of the free speech argument is the proposition that every citizen is obliged to uphold the right of every other citizen – even those whose views fundamentally contradict their own most cherished beliefs – to express their opinions freely and without the fear of any retribution beyond their opponents’ vigorous refutation.
The problems begin when the vigorous refutation of offensive speech is no longer considered sufficient. When the paucity of intellect and the absence of evidence so obvious in the arguments put forward by the racially prejudiced cease to be the best reason for fair-minded people to reject not only the content of those arguments, but also the morally dubious claims of the people making them. When the citizenry, in their confusing and contradictory entirety, are deemed inadequate to the task of determining the proper shape of their society and its future. When the responsibilities of government are entrusted exclusively to those powerful enough to determine which opinions are “correct”. And when those who deviate from such opinions are subjected to the full rigors of the law. At that point, it is possible to give the problems a name.
Totalitarianism.


thedailyblog--2020-02-12--Petty, intrusive, destructive and just plain wrong

In a few months ’ time the Winter Energy Payment ( WEP ) will start for beneficiaries and superannuitants .
Underpinning this badly-targeted policy are unexamined assumptions about living arrangements .
Superannuitants living on their own get $ 450 WEP .
If they are sharing accommodation with another superannuitant , they still get $ 450 each , but if ‘ married ’ they get only a couple rate of $ 700 .
Doesn ’ t that assume some offensive conclusions about bedroom heating arrangements ?
Older people who are flatting should be afraid , be very afraid .
If Work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as ‘ married ’ they will not only get less WEP , they also get a significantly lower rate of NZ Super .
A recent case You can ’ t be friends with anybody any more ’ raises important issues of privacy and the rights of people to be treated as individuals .
In this case , two older flatmates were doing the best they could to help and support each other , she , 61 years old , suffering disability and he , 68 years old having triple bypass surgery .
Work @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they were only good friends and their ‘ unjustifiable ’ advantages of being a couple must be removed .
They were told they owed accumulated overpayments of more than $ 150,000 , and they were lucky not to be prosecuted .
Now on the much less generous married person rates they face losing their rental and need grants for food .
An appeal to the Benefits review committee was unsuccessful : Auckland flatmates fail to overturn Work and Income ruling that they are lovers , face hefty bill of $ 150,000 ‘ Evidence @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that they had sat next to each other on a plane trip and were processed in the same lane at the airport .
Worse the investigator ’ s reports show they secured statements from “ anonymous witnesses who testified that they had seen them coming out of the same bedroom , with the man wearing pyjamas ” .
For goodness sake what century do we live in !
Now the miserable , in-house appeal process will mean more intrusion and time wasting .
If as is likely , the appeal to the Social @ @ @ @ @ @ @ take it further to the High Court .
As the few brave souls before them like Kathryn have found , going through the courts will be a daunting and expensive time-wasting exercise , sadly with little chance of success .

In a few months’ time the Winter Energy Payment (WEP) will start for beneficiaries and superannuitants. Underpinning this badly-targeted policy are unexamined assumptions about living arrangements.
Superannuitants living on their own get $450 WEP. If they are sharing accommodation with another superannuitant, they still get $450 each, but if ‘married’ they get only a couple rate of $700. Doesn’t that assume some offensive conclusions about bedroom heating arrangements?
Older people who are flatting should be afraid, be very afraid. If Work and Income decides they are as good as ‘married’ they will not only get less WEP, they also get a significantly lower rate of NZ Super. A recent case You can’t be friends with anybody any more’ raises important issues of privacy and the rights of people to be treated as individuals. In this case, two older flatmates were doing the best they could to help and support each other, she, 61 years old, suffering disability and he, 68 years old having triple bypass surgery.
Work and Income decided they were just pretending they were only good friends and their ‘unjustifiable’ advantages of being a couple must be removed. They were told they owed accumulated overpayments of more than $150,000, and they were lucky not to be prosecuted. Now on the much less generous married person rates they face losing their rental and need grants for food.
An appeal to the Benefits review committee was unsuccessful: Auckland flatmates fail to overturn Work and Income ruling that they are lovers, face hefty bill of $150,000
‘Evidence’ obtained in the intrusive investigation included that they had sat next to each other on a plane trip and were processed in the same lane at the airport. Worse the investigator’s reports show they secured statements from “anonymous witnesses who testified that they had seen them coming out of the same bedroom, with the man wearing pyjamas”. For goodness sake what century do we live in!
Now the miserable, in-house appeal process will mean more intrusion and time wasting. If as is likely, the appeal to the Social Security Appeal Authority fails, they can take it further to the High Court. As the few brave souls before them like Kathryn have found, going through the courts will be a daunting and expensive time-wasting exercise, sadly with little chance of success.


thedailyblog--2020-02-13--Does your Kiwisaver fund invest in any of these companies which support Israel’s brutal oppression o

Does your Kiwisaver fund invest in any of these companies which support Israel’s brutal oppression of Palestinians? Your job is to find out today…

One of the unexpected outcomes of the Trump/Netanyahu “ deal of the century ” is a small wave of action from international bodies to , very belatedly , to say the least , bring pressure on Israel .
Just before Xmas the International Criminal Court finally announced – after five years of preliminary investigations – that it would open a war crimes investigation into Israel ’ s murderous actions towards Palestinians who resist the occupation of their land or simply try to live their lives in the face of daily harassment and brutality from the Israeli Defense Force .
Now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Council ( UNHRC ) has released its long-awaited list of companies , 112 so far , complicit in the building and maintenance of illegal Israeli settlements on occupied land .
The UNHRC media release and link to the full report are here .
United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 of 2016 ( co-sponsored by the New Zealand government ) states that Israel ’ s settlement activity constitutes a “ flagrant violation ” of international law and has “ no legal validity ” .
The companies listed below by the UNHRC , which are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ be boycotted by all humanity – that includes us and our Kiwisaver providers .
Before you click out of this post – send an email to your Kiwisaver provider with a copy of the list below and ask for an assurance that your provider is not investing in any of these companies .
And send it to your family and friends and ask them to do the same !
Don ’ t leave it till tomorrow – do it now !
NOTE : The categories in the third column refer to the following @ @ @ @ @ @ @ equipment and materials facilitating the construction and the expansion of settlements and the wall , and associated infrastructures ; ( b ) The supply of surveillance and identification equipment for settlements , the wall and checkpoints directly linked with settlements ; ( c ) The supply of equipment for the demolition of housing and property , the destruction of agricultural farms , greenhouses , olive groves and crops ; ( d ) The supply of security services , equipment and materials to enterprises operating in settlements ; ( e ) The provision of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ existence of settlements , including transport ; ( f ) Banking and financial operations helping to develop , expand or maintain settlements and their activities , including loans for housing and the development of businesses ; ( g ) The use of natural resources , in particular water and land , for business purposes ; ( h ) Pollution , and the dumping of waste in or its transfer to Palestinian villages ; ( i ) Captivity of the Palestinian financial and economic markets , as well as practices that disadvantage Palestinian enterprises @ @ @ @ @ @ @ administrative and legal constraints ; ( j ) Use of benefits and reinvestments of enterprises owned totally or partially by settlers for developing , expanding and maintaining the settlements .
Have you sent your email to your Kiwisaver provider yet ?

One of the unexpected outcomes of the Trump/Netanyahu “deal of the century” is a small wave of action from international bodies to, very belatedly, to say the least, bring pressure on Israel.
Just before Xmas the International Criminal Court finally announced – after five years of preliminary investigations – that it would open a war crimes investigation into Israel’s murderous actions towards Palestinians who resist the occupation of their land or simply try to live their lives in the face of daily harassment and brutality from the Israeli Defense Force.
Now this week the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) has released its long-awaited list of companies, 112 so far, complicit in the building and maintenance of illegal Israeli settlements on occupied land.
The UNHRC media release and link to the full report are here.
United Nations Security Council resolution 2334 of 2016 (co-sponsored by the New Zealand government) states that Israel’s settlement activity constitutes a “flagrant violation” of international law and has “no legal validity”.
The companies listed below by the UNHRC, which are deeply involved in the settlements, should be boycotted by all humanity – that includes us and our Kiwisaver providers.
Before you click out of this post – send an email to your Kiwisaver provider with a copy of the list below and ask for an assurance that your provider is not investing in any of these companies. And send it to your family and friends and ask them to do the same!
Don’t leave it till tomorrow – do it now!
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
United Nations Human Rights Council list of companies linked to illegal Israeli settlements.
NOTE: The categories in the third column refer to the following:
(a) The supply of equipment and materials facilitating the construction and the expansion of settlements and the wall, and associated infrastructures;
(b) The supply of surveillance and identification equipment for settlements, the wall and checkpoints directly linked with settlements;
(c) The supply of equipment for the demolition of housing and property, the destruction of agricultural farms, greenhouses, olive groves and crops;
(d) The supply of security services, equipment and materials to enterprises operating in settlements;
(e) The provision of services and utilities supporting the maintenance and existence of settlements, including transport;
(f) Banking and financial operations helping to develop, expand or maintain settlements and their activities, including loans for housing and the development of businesses;
(g) The use of natural resources, in particular water and land, for business purposes;
(h) Pollution, and the dumping of waste in or its transfer to Palestinian villages;
(i) Captivity of the Palestinian financial and economic markets, as well as practices that disadvantage Palestinian enterprises, including through restrictions on movement, administrative and legal constraints;
(j) Use of benefits and reinvestments of enterprises owned totally or partially by settlers for developing, expanding and maintaining the settlements.
No. Business Enterprise Category of listed activity State concerned 1 Afikim Public Transportation Ltd. E Israel 2 Airbnb Inc. E United States 3 American Israeli Gas Corporation Ltd. E, G Israel 4 Amir Marketing and Investments in Agriculture Ltd. G Israel 5 Amos Hadar Properties and Investments Ltd. G Israel 6 Angel Bakeries E, G Israel 7 Archivists Ltd. G Israel 8 Ariel Properties Group E Israel 9 Ashtrom Industries Ltd. G Israel 10 Ashtrom Properties Ltd. G Israel 11 Avgol Industries 1953 Ltd. G Israel 12 Bank Hapoalim B.M. E, F Israel 13 Bank Leumi Le-Israel B.M. E, F Israel 14 Bank of Jerusalem Ltd. E, F Israel 15 Beit Haarchiv Ltd. G Israel 16 Bezeq, the Israel Telecommunication Corp Ltd. E, G Israel 17 Booking.com B.V. E Netherlands 18 C Mer Industries Ltd. B Israel 19 Café Café Israel Ltd. E, G Israel 20 Caliber 3 D, G Israel 21 Cellcom Israel Ltd. E, G Israel 22 Cherriessa Ltd. G Israel 23 Chish Nofei Israel Ltd. G Israel 24 Citadis Israel Ltd. E, G Israel 25 Comasco Ltd. A Israel 26 Darban Investments Ltd. G Israel 27 Delek Group Ltd. E, G Israel 28 Delta Israel G Israel 29 Dor Alon Energy in Israel 1988 Ltd. E, G Israel 30 Egis Rail E France 31 Egged, Israel Transportation Cooperative Society Ltd. E Israel 32 Energix Renewable Energies Ltd. G Israel 33 EPR Systems Ltd. E, G Israel 34 Extal Ltd. G Israel 35 Expedia Group Inc. E United States 36 Field Produce Ltd. G Israel 37 Field Produce Marketing Ltd. G Israel 38 First International Bank of Israel Ltd. E, F Israel 39 Galshan Shvakim Ltd. E, D Israel 40 General Mills Israel Ltd. G Israel 41 Hadiklaim Israel Date Growers Cooperative Ltd. G Israel 42 Hot Mobile Ltd. E Israel 43 Hot Telecommunications Systems Ltd. E Israel 44 Industrial Buildings Corporation Ltd. G Israel 45 Israel Discount Bank Ltd. E, F Israel 46 Israel Railways Corporation Ltd. G, H Israel 47 Italek Ltd. E, G Israel 48 JC Bamford Excavators Ltd. A United Kingdom 49 Jerusalem Economy Ltd. G Israel 50 Kavim Public Transportation Ltd. E Israel 51 Lipski Installation and Sanitation Ltd. G Israel 52 Matrix IT Ltd. E, G Israel 53 Mayer Davidov Garages Ltd. E, G Israel 54 Mekorot Water Company Ltd. G Israel 55 Mercantile Discount Bank Ltd. E, F Israel 56 Merkavim Transportation Technologies Ltd. E Israel 57 Mizrahi Tefahot Bank Ltd. E, F Israel 58 Modi’in Ezrachi Group Ltd. E, D Israel 59 Mordechai Aviv Taasiot Beniyah 1973 Ltd. G Israel 60 Motorola Solutions Israel Ltd. B Israel 61 Municipal Bank Ltd. F Israel 62 Naaman Group Ltd. E, G Israel 63 Nof Yam Security Ltd. E, D Israel 64 Ofertex Industries 1997 Ltd. G Israel 65 Opodo Ltd. E United Kingdom 66 Bank Otsar Ha-Hayal Ltd. E, F Israel 67 Partner Communications Company Ltd. E, G Israel 68 Paz Oil Company Ltd. E, G Israel 69 Pelegas Ltd. G Israel 70 Pelephone Communications Ltd. E, G Israel 71 Proffimat S.R. Ltd. G Israel 72 Rami Levy Chain Stores Hashikma Marketing 2006 Ltd. E, G Israel 73 Rami Levy Hashikma Marketing Communication Ltd. E, G Israel 74 Re/Max Israel E Israel 75 Shalgal Food Ltd. G Israel 76 Shapir Engineering and Industry Ltd. E, G Israel 77 Shufersal Ltd. E, G Israel 78 Sonol Israel Ltd. E, G Israel 79 Superbus Ltd. E Israel 80 Supergum Industries 1969 Ltd. G Israel 81 Tahal Group International B.V. E Netherlands 82 TripAdvisor Inc. E United States 83 Twitoplast Ltd. G Israel 84 Unikowsky Maoz Ltd. G Israel 85 YES E Israel 86 Zakai Agricultural Know-how and inputs Ltd. G Israel 87 ZF Development and Construction G Israel 88 ZMH Hammermand Ltd. G Israel 89 Zorganika Ltd. G Israel 90 Zriha Hlavin Industries Ltd. G Israel 91 Alon Blue Square Israel Ltd. E, G Israel 92 Alstom S.A. E, G France 93 Altice Europe N.V. E Netherlands 94 Amnon Mesilot Ltd. E Israel 95 Ashtrom Group Ltd. G Israel 96 Booking Holdings Inc. E United States 97 Brand Industries Ltd. G Israel 98 Delta Galil Industries Ltd. G Israel 99 eDreams ODIGEO S.A. E Luxembourg 100 Egis S.A. E France 101 Electra Ltd. E Israel 102 Export Investment Company Ltd. E, F Israel 103 General Mills Inc. G United States 104 Hadar Group G Israel 105 Hamat Group Ltd. G Israel 106 Indorama Ventures P.C.L. G Thailand 107 Kardan N.V. E Netherlands 108 Mayer’s Cars and Trucks Co. Ltd. E Israel 109 Motorola Solutions Inc. B United States 110 Natoon Group E, D Israel 111 Villar International Ltd. G Israel 112 Greenkote P.L.C. G United Kingdom
Have you sent your email to your Kiwisaver provider yet?


thedailyblog--2020-02-14--Winston Peters’ Conduct Is Neither Smart, Nor Wise.

IT ’ S CLEAR THAT an important aspect of Jacinda Ardern ’ s political success is her willingness to seek – and take – advice .
This is a much more important quality than people might think .
The number of political leaders who neither seek , nor take , advice is distressingly high .
Admittedly , a large part of successful leadership is learning to trust one ’ s own judgement .
But , as Socrates so wisely pointed out more than 2,000 years ago : “ The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.
” Asking @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of weakness – it ’ s a source of strength .
Sadly , at Jacinda ’ s right hand sits a man who does not know that he does not know .
Winston Peters has climbed very high by trusting his own judgement .
As many political observers have noted over the years , he likes to keep his cards very close to his chest .
Rather than advisers , Peters relies upon cronies : old mates whom he trusts .
Indeed , the only people Peters truly trusts are his oldest and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ not appear to endear oneself to , or remain a mate of , the NZ First leader by telling him things he doesn ’ t want to hear .
Which is , of course , the explanation for Peters repeated falls from grace .
Take this latest brouhaha concerning Lester Gray being photographed alongside journalist Guyon Espiner in the carpark of a Tauranga shopping centre .
If , as Peters insists , the photograph was taken by a NZ First supporter who recognised both the party ’ s former president and the former @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the NZ First Party leadership would be interested to learn who was talking to who ; then why didn ’ t he simply release the image to the media immediately ?
Why arrange for the photograph and its accompanying commentary to be posted on The BFD – a website deemed ideologically radioactive and off-limits by a substantial chunk of the journalistic profession ?
And why , having agreed to release the information under a fancifully false name , did Peters then admit to MagicTalk Radio ’ s Peter Williams : “ We took @ @ @ @ @ @ @ released the photograph , which any halfway competent media adviser would have recommended he do in the strongest possible terms , then he would have been well-placed to ask Espiner and his RNZ bosses some very direct questions .
Were they aware that they were in possession of confidential financial and personal information obtained in contravention of the Privacy Act ?
Is the way in which this illegally obtained information is being drip-fed to the public inspired by journalistic , or political , considerations ?
If the story is being driven forward for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ?
Questions such as these could have materially influenced the direction and impact of Espiner ’ s story .
Very similar questions were asked of Nicky Hager by the National Party , when a similar cache of private information , also obtained illegally , became the basis for his 2014 exposé , Dirty Politics .
To be fair to Hager , however , he did not drip-feed his material strategically , to carefully selected journalists and media outlets , over many weeks and months , in order to achieve a predetermined political outcome @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – entire and whole – in book form , and let the public make up its own mind .
Observing Espiner ’ s body-language on RNZ ’ s Checkpoint programme , as he was interviewed about Peters ’ photograph by his friend and colleague , Lisa Owen , his extreme discomfort and embarrassment was painfully clear .
Also obvious , was just how furious the biters were at being bit .
Apparently , there is nothing at all wrong with using illegally obtained information , clearly capable of materially influencing the outcome of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is being undertaken in the public interest .
But , let the object of the news media ’ s “ investigative journalism ” just once display the temerity to show the public exactly how its journalistic sausages are made , and see how explosively the noble Fourth Estate erupts in outrage !
It is most unlikely that the New Zealand news media appreciates just how bitterly the members of NZ First resented the way politicians and journalists conspired to drive Winston Peters and his party out of Parliament in 2008 .
That bitterness @ @ @ @ @ @ @ such unabashed collaboration been displayed so brazenly .
That none of the formal charges against Peters were ever upheld counted for nothing .
He had been convicted by “ the powerful Privileges Committee ” of Parliament – and that was enough .
One might equally observe that Donald Trump was acquitted by the unbiased and disinterested United States Senate !
Expressed another way , elements of the New Zealand news media , no more than a handful of journalists , publishers and broadcasters , used its power to effectively disempower the 95,356 New @ @ @ @ @ @ @ – who supported NZ First in the 2008 General Election .
It is most unlikely that John Key ’ s decision to rule out any coalition with NZ First would have secured that party ’ s departure from Parliament without the unceasing and vicious journalistic assaults inflicted on Peters – and the Labour-led government – by their no-holds-barred enemies in the House of Representatives and the Parliamentary Press Gallery .
Should we really be surprised that the tens-of-thousands of NZ First supporters who remember the events of 2008 might be especially sensitive to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ Media Party ” in 2020 ?
Is it any wonder that , when a person sympathetic to NZ First looked out the window of a café in Tauranga and saw Lester Gray chatting away amicably to Guyon Espiner , he or she pressed “ Record ” and captured the scene for posterity ?
The great shame , at least from the perspective of NZ First ’ s electoral base , is that their party ’ s leader proved to be so ham-fisted in his use of the photographic evidence he was sent @ @ @ @ @ @ @ secret ; his over-hasty recourse to denial and/or evasion ; has served him and his supporters very ill – not only in this matter , but also in relation to the whole fraught business of political fundraising .
To have lost one election by mishandling a donation might be forgiven as an accident .
Risking the loss of a second , for the same offence , goes well beyond carelessness .
Presented with a similar evidential gift , Jacinda would have been wise enough to ask for professional advice .
What ’ s @ @ @ @ @ @ @ smart enough to take it .

IT’S CLEAR THAT an important aspect of Jacinda Ardern’s political success is her willingness to seek – and take – advice. This is a much more important quality than people might think. The number of political leaders who neither seek, nor take, advice is distressingly high. Admittedly, a large part of successful leadership is learning to trust one’s own judgement. But, as Socrates so wisely pointed out more than 2,000 years ago: “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” Asking for advice isn’t a sign of weakness – it’s a source of strength.
Sadly, at Jacinda’s right hand sits a man who does not know that he does not know. Winston Peters has climbed very high by trusting his own judgement. As many political observers have noted over the years, he likes to keep his cards very close to his chest. Rather than advisers, Peters relies upon cronies: old mates whom he trusts. Indeed, the only people Peters truly trusts are his oldest and dearest mates. Unfortunately, one does not appear to endear oneself to, or remain a mate of, the NZ First leader by telling him things he doesn’t want to hear. Which is, of course, the explanation for Peters repeated falls from grace.
Take this latest brouhaha concerning Lester Gray being photographed alongside journalist Guyon Espiner in the carpark of a Tauranga shopping centre. If, as Peters insists, the photograph was taken by a NZ First supporter who recognised both the party’s former president and the former television journalist, and was pretty confident the NZ First Party leadership would be interested to learn who was talking to who; then why didn’t he simply release the image to the media immediately? Why arrange for the photograph and its accompanying commentary to be posted on The BFD – a website deemed ideologically radioactive and off-limits by a substantial chunk of the journalistic profession? And why, having agreed to release the information under a fancifully false name, did Peters then admit to MagicTalk Radio’s Peter Williams: “We took those photographs.”?
Had Peters simply released the photograph, which any halfway competent media adviser would have recommended he do in the strongest possible terms, then he would have been well-placed to ask Espiner and his RNZ bosses some very direct questions.
Were they aware that they were in possession of confidential financial and personal information obtained in contravention of the Privacy Act?
Is the way in which this illegally obtained information is being drip-fed to the public inspired by journalistic, or political, considerations?
If the story is being driven forward for political purposes, then on whose behalf?
TDB Recommends NewzEngine.com
Questions such as these could have materially influenced the direction and impact of Espiner’s story.
Very similar questions were asked of Nicky Hager by the National Party, when a similar cache of private information, also obtained illegally, became the basis for his 2014 exposé, Dirty Politics. To be fair to Hager, however, he did not drip-feed his material strategically, to carefully selected journalists and media outlets, over many weeks and months, in order to achieve a predetermined political outcome. Instead, he released his story – entire and whole – in book form, and let the public make up its own mind.
Observing Espiner’s body-language on RNZ’s Checkpoint programme, as he was interviewed about Peters’ photograph by his friend and colleague, Lisa Owen, his extreme discomfort and embarrassment was painfully clear. Also obvious, was just how furious the biters were at being bit. Apparently, there is nothing at all wrong with using illegally obtained information, clearly capable of materially influencing the outcome of a general election, when such behaviour is being undertaken in the public interest. But, let the object of the news media’s “investigative journalism” just once display the temerity to show the public exactly how its journalistic sausages are made, and see how explosively the noble Fourth Estate erupts in outrage!
It is most unlikely that the New Zealand news media appreciates just how bitterly the members of NZ First resented the way politicians and journalists conspired to drive Winston Peters and his party out of Parliament in 2008. That bitterness was well merited. Only rarely has such unabashed collaboration been displayed so brazenly. That none of the formal charges against Peters were ever upheld counted for nothing. He had been convicted by “the powerful Privileges Committee” of Parliament – and that was enough. One might equally observe that Donald Trump was acquitted by the unbiased and disinterested United States Senate!
Expressed another way, elements of the New Zealand news media, no more than a handful of journalists, publishers and broadcasters, used its power to effectively disempower the 95,356 New Zealanders – 4.07 percent of registered voters – who supported NZ First in the 2008 General Election. It is most unlikely that John Key’s decision to rule out any coalition with NZ First would have secured that party’s departure from Parliament without the unceasing and vicious journalistic assaults inflicted on Peters – and the Labour-led government – by their no-holds-barred enemies in the House of Representatives and the Parliamentary Press Gallery.
Should we really be surprised that the tens-of-thousands of NZ First supporters who remember the events of 2008 might be especially sensitive to what looks like another assault by the “Media Party” in 2020? Is it any wonder that, when a person sympathetic to NZ First looked out the window of a café in Tauranga and saw Lester Gray chatting away amicably to Guyon Espiner, he or she pressed “Record” and captured the scene for posterity?
The great shame, at least from the perspective of NZ First’s electoral base, is that their party’s leader proved to be so ham-fisted in his use of the photographic evidence he was sent. Peters’ obsession with keep things secret; his over-hasty recourse to denial and/or evasion; has served him and his supporters very ill – not only in this matter, but also in relation to the whole fraught business of political fundraising. To have lost one election by mishandling a donation might be forgiven as an accident. Risking the loss of a second, for the same offence, goes well beyond carelessness.
Presented with a similar evidential gift, Jacinda would have been wise enough to ask for professional advice. What’s more, she would’ve been smart enough to take it.