New Zealand politician removed from parliament following comments in Palestinian debate
An urgent debate was called after the centre-right government said on Monday 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 U.N. 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 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.
New Zealand has said it will make a decision in September about whether it would recognise Palestine as a state.
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 judgement,' Peters said.
Along with the Green Party, opposition parties Labour and Te Pati Maori 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.'
Solve the daily Crossword
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Washington Post
an hour ago
- Washington Post
Iran's president mocks Netanyahu over pledge of help in water crisis
TEHRAN, Iran — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Wednesday mocked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's offer to help with Iran's water crisis . Pezeshkian said on X that Israel has denied Palestinians access to water and food, so can't be trusted.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Israeli leader sends a message to the people of Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tells Iranians that Israel can help ease their water crisis, "the moment your country is free." (Credit: GPO)
New York Times
2 hours ago
- New York Times
Some Democrats Panicked Over Mamdani. Obama Called Him.
In the days after it became clear Zohran Mamdani had won New York City's June mayoral primary, much of the Democratic establishment began to panic. Former President Barack Obama, the last Democrat to captivate the party's base, got on the phone. In a lengthy call in June, Mr. Obama congratulated Mr. Mamdani, offered him advice about governing and discussed the importance of giving people hope in a dark time, according to people with knowledge of the conversation. Others in Mr. Obama's orbit have also shown a keen interest in Mr. Mamdani and his campaign. Jon Favreau, who served as Mr. Obama's speechwriter, and Dan Pfeiffer, a former senior adviser, have been in communication with the Democratic strategist Morris Katz, among Mr. Mamdani's closest aides. David Axelrod, who served as Mr. Obama's chief campaign strategist and senior adviser, was also curious. Last month, he stopped by Mr. Mamdani's campaign headquarters, then in the Flatiron neighborhood of Manhattan, to meet the candidate and his staff, and see things for himself. 'What I found when I went over to that office was a familiar spirit that I hadn't seen in a while of just determined, upbeat idealism,' Mr. Axelrod told me. 'You may not agree with every answer he's giving, or every idea he has, but he's certainly asking the right questions, which is how do we make the country work for working people?' He said Mr. Mamdani's ability to inspire young Americans, who feel economic uncertainty acutely, was critical and something the party at large needed to reckon with. Mr. Axelrod was introduced to Mr. Mamdani by Patrick Gaspard, another Obama insider. Mr. Gaspard — Mr. Obama's 2008 national political director, and later the U.S. ambassador to South Africa — has been serving as an informal adviser to Mr. Mamdani. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
