In this, the first month of 2024, we at Indigenous Coalition for Israel have been busy indeed.

When the ICFI began in 2021, one of its long term goals was establishing an Indigenous Embassy in Jerusalem.

We are very pleased to announce that the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem will launch on 1 February 2024 at an inaugural event at the Friends of Zion Museum in central Jerusalem. 

This is the realization of the dreams of many indigenous peoples over decades, and of ICFI’s more recent advocacy. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the vision for connection with Israel was carried by Monte Ohio who from 1996 organized international conferences for indigenous peoples. In more recent years, several indigenous delegations have gone to Israel from Aotearoa New Zealand to strengthen ties with the people of Israel. 

In September 2023, I met with Jerusalem’s Deputy Mayor Fleur Hassan Nahoum and raised the idea of establishing an Indigenous Embassy in Jerusalem. A month later, as the war with Hamas was breaking out, ICFI advisory member Bradford Haami also met with DPM Hassan-Nahoum, who announced on the Jerusalem Prayer Breakfast broadcast the intention to open an Indigenous Embassy.

ICFI has led the discussions with various parties regarding the embassy and it was felt that now was the right time to move forward,  even while Israel is at war. This will send a strong message that though Israel faces opposition from many quarters, a strong contingent of indigenous peoples around the world stand with her and support her right to defend herself from those who seek her destruction. 

Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem opens with strong expressions of support from indigenous leaders around the world: Singapore, Taiwan, Samoa, American Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Native American chiefs and paramount chiefs from Southern Africa.

As we prepare to head to Israel, I can’t help but think of the late Kaumatua Patrick Ruka, who had such a great love for Israel. At a hui held at Hoani Waititi Marae, to welcome back Israeli Ambassador, His Excellency Dr Itzhak Gerberg, after he was recalled following New Zealand’s shameful co-sponsorship of anti-Israel UNSC Resolution 2334 in 2016, Matua Pat said, 

“Our ancestors have cried for the day that they could meet with the sons of Abraham. ‘Cause you were the people of hope, the people of light. Welcome to my whare (meeting house). Welcome… I, like them, have waited for this day…I want to be your friend”.

It is in that spirit of friendship and humility that we are heading to Israel, to show our solidarity and support at this crucial time. A larger dedication event is planned for later in the year. 

I write this on UN Holocaust Remembrance Day and must ask: Where is the voice of the UN calling for the return of the 236 hostages still in captivity, demanding the Red Cross offer humanitarian care to the hostages, speaking out against the brutal violence and rape perpetrated on women and men, on 7 October and in captivity? 

I must also ask: Where is the church? Where are New Zealand’s human rights organizations? Why is there silence regarding the brutality Israel has suffered? No other country would be expected to accept the mass sadistic violence that occurred on 7 October and then be condemned for acting decisively to protect its people from future attacks.

Of course, we understand that the world has been seduced by a false narrative, and it is precisely that narrative that the ICFI seeks to counter, through speaking out on various fora, and through initiatives such as the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem. 

We reach out to you now and ask that you not remain silent. That you not choose to sit on the sidelines as so many did in the 1930s, when the Nazi regime ramped up its programme to ostracize and demonize the Jewish people. We are seeing the same thing happening today. The players and pretext may be different, but the underlying spirit is the same.

Please sign this petition which has a few more days to run and forward to as many friends as you can.

“...to designate the whole of the Hamas organisation (both political and military wings) as a terrorist organisation, demand that Hamas immediately release all hostages, increase support for agencies working to locate and free the hostages, and speak out against what I believe are unprecedented levels of anti-semitism in Aotearoa New Zealand.”

Please also consider signing and sharing this Joint Christian Statement originating here in Aotearoa and signed by many international Christian leaders.

Dr Sheree Trotter

OUR NEEDS

Please pray for our small team heading to Jerusalem this week.

We are very grateful to those who have financially supported our trip to Jerusalem.

There is very much to do to get Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem firmly established. It will require significant resources. Please consider helping us financially and sowing into this important initiative. ICFI is incorporated in New Zealand as a charitable trust board (50078149) (NZBN: 9429049907490).

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