New Zealand PM says Netanyahu has ‘lost the plot' after Palestine recognition debate sees MP ejected
Speaking to local media on Wednesday, Christopher Luxon said what was happening in Gaza was 'utterly, utterly appalling'.
'I think Netanyahu has gone way too far, I think he has lost the plot and I think what we are seeing overnight, with the attack on Gaza City is utterly, utterly unacceptable.'
Luxon said the Israeli prime minister was 'not listening to the international community'.
The prime minister's comments are among the strongest words of condemnation he has used against Netanyahu but that will be cold comfort for opposition parties who say the government is lagging behind on recognising Palestinian statehood.
On Tuesday, MP Chlöe Swarbrick was ordered to leave parliament during a heated debate, that was called after the centre-right government said it was weighing up its position on whether to recognise a Palestinian state. Close ally Australia on Monday joined Canada, the UK and France in announcing it would recognise a Palestinian state at a UN conference in September.
Swarbrick, who is co-leader of the Green party, said New Zealand was a 'laggard' and an 'outlier' and the lack of decision was appalling, before calling on some government members to support a bill to 'sanction Israel for its war crimes'. The bill was proposed by her party in March and is supported by all opposition parties.
'If we find six of 68 government MPs with a spine, we can stand on the right side of history,' said Swarbrick.
Speaker Gerry Brownlee said that statement was 'completely unacceptable' and that she had to withdraw it and apologise. When she refused, Swarbrick was ordered to leave parliament.
Brownlee later clarified Swarbrick could return on Wednesday but if she still refused to apologise she would again be removed from parliament.
Luxon's government has said it would make a decision in September about whether it would recognise Palestine as a state.
Netanyahu has been strongly critical of growing international moves to recognise a Palestinian state. 'To have European countries and Australia march into that rabbit hole, just like that, fall right into it,' he said earlier this week. 'This canard is disappointing, and I think it's actually shameful. But it's not going to change our position.'
Netanyahu went on to claim Israel was 'actually applying force judiciously, and they know it'.
Foreign minister Winston Peters told parliament that over the next month the government would gather information and talk to partners, which would inform cabinet's decision.
'We'll be weighing this decision carefully rather than rushing to judgment,' Peters said.
Along with the Green party, opposition parties Labour and Te Pati Māori support recognition of a Palestinian state.
Labour parliamentarian Peeni Henare said New Zealand had a history of standing strong on its principles and values and in this case 'was being left behind'.
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