Expel The Israeli Ambassador Now
PSNA is calling on the government to immediately expel the Israeli ambassador from New Zealand.
PSNA Co-Chair, John Minto says Israel's strikes on Iran are 'unprovoked, unilateral and a massive threat to humanity everywhere.'
'This is such a dangerous action, that diplomatic weasel words about Israel are not acceptable. Israel is an out-of-control rogue state playing with the future of humanity. We must send it the strongest possible message.'
'Israel's using its often repeated lies and misinformation to attempt to justify it's unconscionable violence and aggression.'
Minto points to Iran's right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes.
'Even US intelligence officials have made is clear very recently that Iran is NOT on the way to produce a nuclear weapon.'
'And neither is Iran committed to the 'annihilation' of Israel. Iran does not support Israel as a racist, apartheid state and wants to see liberation for Palestine. In this, Iran has, along with the overwhelming majority of countries in the world, called for an end to Israel's military occupation of Palestine, the end of its apartheid policies directed against Palestinians and the return of Palestinian refugees.'
New Zealand has the same policies.
Minto says our government must shoulder some of the blame for Israel feeling it can safely launch attacks on Iran.
'Appeasement of this apartheid state, as our government and other western countries have done over 20 months, has led Israel to believe it can get away within mass murder forced expulsions and managed starvation in Gaza, so that whatever it does it will be never be held to account'
'Only sanctions count – and just the first one must be the expulsion of the Israel ambassador with only giving him enough time to pack his bags.
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1News
35 minutes ago
- 1News
US helps Israel shoot down barrage of Iranian missiles
American air defence systems and Navy assets in the Middle East helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles today that Tehran launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities and top military leaders, a US official said. The US has both ground-based Patriot missile defence systems and Terminal High Altitude Air Defence systems in the region capable of intercepting ballistic missiles, which Iran fired in multiple barrages in retaliation for Israel's initial attack. Naval assets also were involved in assisting Israel as Iran fired missiles at Tel Aviv, another official said. It was not immediately clear if ships fired interceptors or if their advanced missile tracking systems helped Israel identify incoming targets. The United States also is shifting military resources, including ships, in the Middle East in response to the strikes. The Navy has directed the destroyer USS Thomas Hudner, which is capable of defending against ballistic missiles, to begin sailing from the western Mediterranean Sea toward the eastern Mediterranean and has directed a second destroyer to begin moving forward so it can be available if requested by the White House, US officials said. ADVERTISEMENT American fighter jets also are patrolling the sky in the Middle East to protect personnel and installations, and air bases in the region are taking additional security precautions, the officials said. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public or to discuss ongoing operations. President Donald Trump met with his National Security Council principals today to discuss options. The forces in the region have been taking precautionary measures for days, including having military dependents voluntarily depart regional bases, in anticipation of the strikes and to protect personnel in case of a large-scale response from Tehran. The army said dozens of missiles were launched, and the army has ordered residents across the country to move into bomb shelters. (Source: Associated Press) Typically around 30,000 troops are based in the Middle East, and about 40,000 troops are in the region now, according to a US official. That number surged as high as 43,000 last October amid the ongoing tensions between Israel and Iran as well as continuous attacks on commercial and military ships in the Red Sea by the Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen. The Navy has additional assets that it could surge to the Middle East if needed, particularly its aircraft carriers and the warships that sail with them. The USS Carl Vinson is in the Arabian Sea — the only aircraft carrier in the region. ADVERTISEMENT The carrier USS Nimitz is in the Indo-Pacific and could be directed toward the Middle East if needed, and the USS George Washington just left its port in Japan and could also be directed to the region if so ordered, one of the officials said. Then-President Joe Biden initially surged ships to protect Israel following the October 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas that launched the war in Gaza. It was seen as a deterrent against Hezbollah and Iran at the time. On October 1, 2024, US Navy destroyers fired about a dozen interceptors in defence of Israel as the country came under attack by more than 200 missiles fired by Iran.
Scoop
3 hours ago
- Scoop
Statement From The Embassy Of Israel In New Zealand
The embassy of Israel would like to share the following: Yesterday, Israel launched a military operation to eliminate the Iranian nuclear threat – an existential threat to Israel. In recent years, the radical Iranian regime has been devoted to the destruction of the State of Israel, not just as an ideal but as a binding directive. Furthermore, Iran is the world's primary state sponsor of terrorism. Over the years, the Iranian regime has been investing in a massive military buildup in order to execute its declared vision – the destruction of Israel. The Iranian regime has been promoting an extensive and clandestine nuclear weapon program while conducting negotiations in bad faith, deceiving the world, and taking advantage of the diplomatic efforts as a cover-up. IAEA reports prove, without a doubt, that the Iranian nuclear program is not meant for peaceful purposes but rather for military objectives. While rapidly enriching uranium, Iran has been developing over the years advanced means of delivery (missiles) and continuing to advance weaponization efforts. Iran is only moments away from a nuclear weapon. The threat posed by Iran is imminent, and Israel has no choice but to remove it before it is too late. Iran accumulated large amounts of highly enriched uranium that are sufficient for more than 9 nuclear bombs. A third of which was enriched and accumulated in the last three months alone – a drastic increase of production volume. This ill intended action was conducted in parallel with the US negotiations. Recently, Iran has made significant progress in its nuclear weapon related efforts. Such an accelerated effort has not been seen in the last two decades. Israel has the right to defend itself, and it has launched a precise self-defense campaign as a last resort. The operation focuses on military targets and additional elements of the nuclear weapon endeavor. Israel is not targeting the Iranian people but rather the radical forces that threaten its security. Israel is taking every feasible measure in order to minimize the harm to the uninvolved civilians. Today, Iran has launched hundreds of ballistic missiles—each carrying large warheads with tons of explosives—indiscriminately at population centers with the intent to kill as many innocent Israelis as possible. While Israel has precisely targeted senior military commanders and nuclear weapons developers, Iran is bombing Israeli civilians. Israel will not allow a regime that openly calls for its destruction to possess nuclear weapons or vast stockpiles of advanced ballistic missiles.
Otago Daily Times
4 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Israeli embassy closes in Wellington
By Soumya Bhamidipati of RNZ The Israeli embassy in New Zealand has shut as part of a worldwide closure of the country's diplomatic missions. The closures comes as tensions remain high in the region - Israel launched an attack on Iranian nuclear and military facilities on Friday, which Iran responded to with the launch of 100 drones. The Embassy of Israel - on Brandon Street in Wellington - services Tonga, Samoa, Cook Islands and Niue, as well as New Zealand. It also operates a consulate office in Auckland. A message on the embassy's website announced the decision: "In light of recent developments, Israeli missions around the world will be closed and consular services will not be provided," it said. "An online form is available for Israelis abroad to report their location and current status." The message also issued general safety guidelines for Israelis abroad - encouraging them to avoid displaying Jewish or Israeli symbols in public spaces and avoid attending large gatherings or events associated with Israel or Jewish communities. An 'unpublish' date on the message indicated it was intended to appear on the website until the end of July. In a statement sent to RNZ on Saturday morning, deputy chief of mission Yael Holan said Iran was "only moments away from a nuclear weapon" and Israel "had no choice". "Iran accumulated large amounts of highly enriched uranium that are sufficient for more than nine nuclear bombs. A third of which was enriched and accumulated in the last three months alone - a drastic increase of production volume. " Israel has for years said Iran was working towards obtaining nuclear weapons. Holan said the recent "accelerated effort has not been seen in the last two decades". "Israel has the right to defend itself, and it has launched a precise self-defense campaign as a last resort." She accused Iran of targeting civilian populations in its retaliatory attacks, saying Israel only "targeted senior military commanders and nuclear weapons developers". "Israel will not allow a regime that openly calls for its destruction to possess nuclear weapons or vast stockpiles of advanced ballistic missiles." The embassy closure came as part of a global shutting of Israeli embassies. Israel's embassy in Sweden said the country would close its diplomatic missions around the world and that consular services would not be provided at about 11pm on Friday night (NZ), Reuters reported. It did not say how long the missions would be closed.
