NZ Herald , 1 January 2018.
A FULL-PAGE advertisement has been taken out in The Washington Post calling Kiwi musician Lorde a bigot and accusing New Zealand of prejudice against Israel.
The ad on the fifth page of the paper’s December 31 edition — taken out by outspoken rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s This World: The Values Network — criticises the 21-year-old for joining “a global anti-semitic boycott of Israel” but still performing in Russia.
It features a large photo of the singer superimposed over a picture of men running through rubble cradling babies with the headline “Lorde and New Zealand ignore Syria to attack Israel”.
The Grammy winner this month cancelled a concert scheduled in Tel Aviv for June after criticism from activists in the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement.
The decision also came after an open letter written by two New Zealand fans argued the concert would show support for Israel’s occupation of Palestine.
The advertisement in the Post says Lorde’s decision showed how a “growing prejudice against the Jewish State” in New Zealand was “trickling down to its youth”.
It cites New Zealand’s choice in December to vote — along with 127 countries — in favour of a United Nations resolution calling for the United States to withdraw its decision to recognise Jerusalem as the capital of Israel.
It also criticises New Zealand’s co-sponsorship last year of a UN resolution which condemned continued Israeli settlements in occupied Palestinian territory and caused a six-month diplomatic rift with Israel.
“While Lorde claims to be concerned with human rights, she hypocritically chose to proceed with her two concerts in Putin’s Russia, despite his support for [Syrian president Bashar al-]Assad’s genocidal regime,” the ad reads.
“Let’s boycott the boycotters and tell Lorde and her fellow bigots that Jew- hatred has no place in the twenty-first century.”
The singer has also copped flak from the Jewish Council of New Zealand and the The Zionist Federation of New Zealand.
Israel’s ambassador to New Zealand, Itzhak Gerberg, last week invited Lorde to meet him in person.
The NZ Jewish Council has distanced itself from a full-page advertisement in the Washington Post calling musician Lorde a bigot and accusing New Zealand of prejudice against Israel.
On Monday, the council said the advertisement – taken out by outspoken rabbi Shmuley Boteach’s This World: The Values Network – did not promote understanding or engagement.
“The New Zealand Jewish Council is committed to dialogue and tolerance and distances itself from the inflammatory and aggressive material that stoops to the level of BDS rather than rising above it,” it said in a statement.
Kia ora GAZA . ..Aotearoa tautoko
Kia Ora Gaza is a New Zealand network dedicated to breaking the inhuman and illegal Israeli siege of Gaza by delivering humanitarian aid, fostering fraternal relations, enhancing understanding of Palestine and the Middle East, and cooperating with others who have similar aims.
Our website and facebook pages underscore and promote these goals, however posts do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Kia Ora Gaza or our partners.
Kia Ora Gaza is a member of the international Freedom Flotilla Coalition – website: freedomflotilla.org and part of the NZ Palestine Solidarity Network. Website: palestinesolidaritynz.net .
Kia Ora Gaza was established from a series of public meetings to organise Kiwi participation in international efforts to end the siege of Gaza & promote practical solidarity for Palestrine. This followed the Israeli commando raid on the Mavi Mamara-led peace flotilla in 2010 which resulted in the deaths of 10 civilian peace activists.
Since then Kia Ora Gaza has organised or supported the following projects:
1. Sent a team of 6 Kiwis on the 140-vehicle Viva Palestina international land convoy in 2010, driving and donating 3 ambulances to Gaza – part of the $7million medical aid delivered.
2. Supported Kiwi participant Harmeet Sooden to join the Canadian boat, Tahrir on Freedom Flotilla 2 to Gaza in 2011.
3. Sent a team of 4 Kiwis on the “Miles of Smiles” land convoy to Gaza with 10 tonnes of medical aid, 2012
4. Sent a fact-finding mission to Gaza Nov, 2012
5. Sent donations for food relief following the 2014 floods in Gaza
6. Co-organised nation-wide protests each weekend during Israel’s 50-day bombardment of Gaza in 2014
7. Sponsored an education project training young Palestinian journalists in Gaza 2015
8. Facilitated “NZ-Gaza twinning agreements” with a sports club and community centre in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza.
9. Co-sponsored 2 ambulances for Doctors Worldwide rehabilitation centre in Khan Younis (Israeli bombing in 2014 destroyed 26 ambulances in Gaza)
10. Maintains website: kiaoragaza.net and facebook pages.
11. Co-hosted the NZ Conference on Palestine, 2013 and 2016
12. Facilitated 2 Maori TV journalists on board the Freedom Flotilla to Gaza in 2015
13. Co-hosted NZ speaking tours including:
– Harry Fear (UK doco-maker) & Roger Fowler (Kia Ora Gaza) in 2013
– Jeff Halper (Director, Israeli Committee Against House Demolitions) 2013
– Miko Peled (author) 2013
– Yousef Aljamal (Palestinian commentator) 2013
– Amira Hass (Israeli Journalist, Haaretz) 2015
– Samah Sabawi (Palestinian Writer) 2015
– Emad Burnat (Palestinian Film-maker) 2016
– Ali Abunimah (founder Electronic Intifada) 2016
– Rafeef Ziadah (Palestinian poet) April 2017
14. Aug 2016 co-hosted special Auckland screening of Emad Burnat’s documentary ‘5 Broken Cameras’
15. Sept 2016. Transferred $6000 raised in our appeal to Palestinian doco-maker Emad Burnat towards a new camera.
16. Sept 2016 facilitated Green MP Marama Davidson to join Women’s Boat to Gaza peace flotilla.
17. Feb 2017 co-hosted film screening event: “The Idol”
18. April 2017, co-hosted three-city NZ tour with Palestinian performance poet Rafeef Ziadah and musician Phil Monsour.
19. May 2017 ‘Salt Water Challenge’ solidarity actions with Palestinian hunger strikers.
20. May 2017 transferred $1000 donation to Al Ahli Sports club in Nuseirat Refugee Camp, Gaza for football equipment.
21. July 2017 transferred our EURO1000 share to the FFC Gaza fishers project via MyCare Humanitarian Care Malaysia.
22. July 2017 transferred $1000 donation to Al Ahli Sports Club, Nuseirat Refugee Camp, Gaza.
23. Sept 2017 the Freedom Flotilla Coalition delivered fishing equipment as solidarity aid to 400 Gazan fishers via MyCare, Malaysia.
Lorde Target in Full Page Advert added by MANA Editor on
View all posts by MANA Editor →