LONDON: New Zealand’s failure to recognize Palestinian statehood has been met with criticism across the country from politicians and activists.
The government was expected to recognize Palestine in line with the likes of the UK, Canada and Australia at the UN General Assembly in New York. However, Foreign Minister Winston Peters did not take that step in his address on Saturday.
“With a war raging, Hamas remaining the de facto government of Gaza and no clarity on next steps, too many questions remain about the future state of Palestine for it to be prudent for New Zealand to announce recognition at this time,” he said.
It came as a surprise to many after Prime Minister Christopher Luxon’s previous assertion that recognition by New Zealand was a matter of “when, not if.”
Former Prime Minister Helen Clark criticized the decision not to recognize Palestine, saying it places New Zealand “very much on the wrong side of history.”
She told broadcaster RNZ: “As more and more countries move to see that the recognition of Palestine is part of a process of moving towards a solution, New Zealand is lagging behind for reasons which make very little sense at all.”
Elsewhere, members of Protestant and Roman Catholic clergies chained themselves to the immigration minister’s office in protest.
Earlier this month, thousands took to the streets of Auckland to demand that the coalition government recognize Palestinian statehood.
The Justice for Palestine human rights group said the inaction shows that New Zealand is “a country confused about its position in the world.”
The Green Party called the government’s position “a stain.”
Labour foreign affairs spokesperson Peeni Henare said: “Recognition of Palestine and sanctions on Israel send a clear message to Israel and the world: New Zealand will not stand by while Israel disregards human life and dignity, and international law.”
He added: “Luxon had a chance to stand up for what is right, but he failed.”
Palestine has now been recognized by 157 of the 193 UN member states.
