Will Christchurch become the first New Zealand city to impose sanctions on Israel?

Christchurch City Council is set to vote on a resolution to change its procurement policies to exclude companies building and supporting illegal Israeli settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.

The resolution was proposed by PSNA in a presentation to council in June and a positive recommendation will finally come to council tomorrow.

Details of the agenda item are on pages 13-23 here: Finance and Performance Committee Agenda – Wednesday, October 23, 2024

“We are pleased that the council will consider this proposal tomorrow,” says PSNA national chairman John Minto. “If passed, Christchurch will be the first city in New Zealand to end Israeli impunity for war crimes” (Building settlements on occupied land owned by others is a war crime under international law).

The proposal would bring the council’s policies into line with UN Security Council Resolution 2334, which the previous national government co-sponsored in 2016. It will also mean that Christchurch will be the first city council in the country to adopt this policy (Canterbury voted for the environment). this policy earlier this year).

“Israel is wreaking havoc across the Middle East today because it has never been held accountable for 76 years of egregious violations of international law,” Minto says.

“This proposal is a small but important step towards imposing sanctions against Israel. There are many more steps to follow.”

PSNA national chairman John Minto and University of Canterbury lecturer Josephine Varghese will address councilors in support of the proposal at around 9.40am, supported by supporters in the public gallery.

We hope that the media will report on this important development in holding Israel accountable.

John Minto

National Chairman

Palestinian Solidarity Network Aotearoa