New Zealand’s ruling Labour Party announced on Monday, 2 October it will continue supporting Palestine via vision of 2 state solution.
The statement came in the context of preparation for the 14 October elections.
The Labour Party’s commitment entails extending an invitation to the head of the General Delegation of Palestine, allowing them to present their credentials as an Ambassador to New Zealand.
Some media outlets noted that the labour party is planning to recognize Palestine which will align New Zealand with the general view commemorated at the United Nations, where 139 out of 193 member states have already recognized Palestine’s sovereignty.
However, when asked about that , the Deputy Prime Minister said:
Deputy Prime Minister Grant Robertson confirmed this decision today answering questions , saying that ” Not until there is a state to recognise. But we have long stood for a 2 state solution and what we have said is that we want to have more open and regular dialogue with Palestinian Representatives.”
Neil Ballantyne Justice for Palestine spokesperson said: “It’s great to see the Labour Party joining the Green Party in making a commitment to recognize Palestine if elected. In doing so they are continuing Aotearoa New Zealand’s tradition of taking independent and principled stances on foreign policy issues from nuclear free to standing up against apartheid.”
He added “We have faith that just as ordinary New Zealanders were not prepared to stand by in silence while the South African government maintained an apartheid regime, we will not be silent while Palestinians suffer similar indignities and will reward those politicians who are taking this courageous stance,”
New Zealand invariably denounced the Israeli occupation crimes against the Palestinian people despite the fact that it has not officially recognized Palestine as a sovereign state.
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