Indigenous Coalition for Israel’s newsletter

Welcome to Indigenous Coalition for Israel’s end of year newsletter.

As 2021 draws to a close, we look back over the past few months with mixed emotions.

KAUMATUA PAT RUKA
We were deeply saddened by the passing of Advisory Council Member Kaumatua Pat Ruka. We will miss his vision, wisdom, guidance and aroha. However, his legacy lives on and we and others will continue the work about which he was so passionate. Read about Pat’s accomplishments and farewell.

TE ARAWA HUI
On a brighter note, we were very pleased to facilitate a hui between Te Arawa business and Iwi leaders and the Israeli ambassador, HE Ran Yaakoby. It was the first time an ambassador had been formally welcomed onto the renowned local meeting house ‘Tama-te-Kapua’. The ambassador was warmly received and the hui marked the beginning of a relationship that will no doubt be developed in the coming months. Read more.

INTERNATIONAL PRESS
It is central to our mission to communicate why we believe recognition of Jewish indigeneity is so important. We are pleased to have had our work published in international fora in the past few weeks; in the well respected American Jewish online Tablet Magazine, The Jerusalem Post and in Australian publications, Australia Israel Review and JWire.

‘Light for the Indigenous Nations’ explains why the understanding of Jewish indigeneity matters.

“Because a colonialist narrative has taken hold in the popular imagination, by which Jews are seen as foreign colonizers who have displaced the indigenous Palestinian population. The colonialist narrative had its genesis in academia and has filtered down to politics and media. It has been promoted by historians of settler colonialism, Palestinian academics, politicians, and anti-Israel activists. Israel is portrayed as the archetypal intruder.“

A lack of understanding of the indigenous status of Jews in Israel has meant that the United Nations has had a free hand in its attempt to sever all Jewish association with Jerusalem.

‘UN’s war on Jewish Jerusalem: A denial of indigenous rights’ explains that,

“(The UN’s attack on Jewish Jersualem) constitutes a denial of history, an infraction against self-determination under international law, and a violation of indigenous rights in ancestral lands.”

The UN has been unrelenting in its attacks on Israel and in denying Israel any rights over Jerusalem. In this, New Zealand has been complicit.

There is much work to be done to address this matter locally.

UPCOMING WEBINAR CO-SPONSORED BY MULTIPLE ORGANISATIONS

Following the publication of the Tablet Magazine article, we have been invited by the Canadian Antisemitism Education Foundation and the Canadian Institute for Jewish Research to speak on the topic ‘Understanding Jewish Indigeneity: Indigenous New Zealanders Speak’. The webinar is co-sponsored by more than 25 organizations.

Please join us for the webinar.
13 January 2022, 12pm PST - 3PM EST - 8PM UK
14 January 2022, 10am, New Zealand time

Register now:
bit.ly/jewishindigeneity

Scroll down to view a webinar brochure.

We encourage you to visit our website over the holiday break and catch up on our most recent articles.

Happy New Year!

FUNDING
Indigenous Coalition For Israel is registered as a charitable trust (donations are presently not tax deductible). Trustees are Hon Alfred Ngaro, Dr Sheree Trotter and solicitor Graham Simpson. We need funding to achieve our goals so please consider making a monthly donation to support this important work.