This week clergy (Anglican, Catholic, Baptist) have made headlines through two actions (Auckland and Wellington) seeking to press the NZ Government to extend sanctions [there are a few already against a few Israeli leaders] to press Israel to cease their war/genocide against Palestinians in Gaza (and the West Bank). Articles here, here and here.
There is a strong sense among many Christians in NZ that "enough is enough". Israel needs calling out on what it is doing, more than that, it needs pressuring against what it is doing. Hence these actions, hence our own recent diocesan synod calling for a letter to the PM and Cabinet endorsing a couple of recent statements including one which calls on sanctions: see here and here.
I am aware, of course, that such a sense of enough is enough, this must stop, is not shared by all Christians in NZ. Hamas could, for instance, surrender now - better, some months ago - in order to spare the Palestinians it professes to serve the agony, death, grief and destruction they are experiencing as Israel fulfils its intent to destroy Hamas.
Nevertheless, there is a question about what an aggressor - as Israel is in this situation - should do - ehtically - in order to pursue a particular policy goal. Are the cruel, genocidal, warring actions of the IDF the only way to destroy Hamas? That is not at all clear. Is what Israel doing, even if they do destroy Hamas, creating an environment in which present and future generations of Palestinians (to say nothing of Arab allies) will have no bitterness about their suffering, no grounds to spur future creations of new terror groups? A definite NO. Israel is sowing something which will reap future deathly consequences.
Sanctioning Israel into ending its annihiliation of Hamas, of Gaza and, in time, Palestinian life on the West Bank, could actually do Israel a favour!
Where to from here?
It will be interesting to see if the NZ Government does take some kind of new and even bold step in its response to the suffering. There are hints that a big announcement is coming when Winston Peters, our Foreign Minister, addresses the UN later this month. It may take future historians to determine whether church statements and protests have influenced the direction of our Government if there is change - other forces are at work on our Government, including other parties in our parliament, regular and sometimes massive protests on our streets, and - I suggest - a moral conscience for a Government that includes Christians.
Let's see what might happen in the next two weeks.
18 comments:
I appreciate what you've shared in this post Peter, especially as I've been off on a different tangent and not following these things. Good to hear.
I agree that it would be better for everyone for Israel to stop using violence to attack violence but I am concerned about the now general use of the word ‘genocide’. Certainly many people have been killed but trying to destroy an actual enemy who has attacked and is even now manipulating media to magnify what is happening, is not genocide in the sense of a deliberate attempt to destroy a whole people group. That happened in the Holocaust to Jews who had in no way attacked the German state or people and yet were deliberately and systematically annihilated. From what I read, the IDF makes some attempt to limit the effects of their actions even if we find that difficult to understand or accept given the amount of destruction that is occurring.
That said, maybe sanctions against Israel might work to bring an end to the war, but I seriously doubt it. It might push Israel into who knows what unimaginable decisions to preserve the only place in the world that they thought provided them with safety.
"The world's leading association of genocide scholars has declared that Israel is committing genocide in Gaza."
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/articles/cde3eyzdr63o.amp
"UN inquiry says Israel’s war on Gaza is genocide"
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/9/16/first-head-of-united-nations-body-declares-israels-gaza-war-a-genocide
Rather than just single out Israel, and to some of Moya's points above, perhaps we should be focusing more attention to the much bigger threat to world peace and international law at present, and the country that keeps supplying the means by which Israel is committing genocide...
"US vetoes UN demand for ceasefire, aid access in Gaza"
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/world/573528/us-vetoes-un-demand-for-ceasefire-aid-access-in-gaza
I've just received an emailed news article from The Washington Post (occasionally they send me a full article, this is one such):
Title: As the world frets over Palestine’s status, Israel flattens Gaza
I'll fwd it to Peter. Mark/Moya if you'd like to read it flick me an email and I'll send it to you. ~Liz
Two non-contiguous paragraphs I've selected:
"The war has inflamed public opinion in much of the world, including in Western countries with close ties to Israel. Much to Israel’s chagrin, an independent U.N. commission found there was clear evidence that Israel has committed genocide in Gaza, echoing assessments by leading international and Israeli human rights organizations."
On Wednesday, Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, an influential figure on the Israeli far right, touted the potential real estate “bonanza” that awaited. “We have done the demolition phase, which is always the first phase of urban renewal,” he said, referring to Israel’s months of bombardments of the Palestinian territory home to more than 2 million people. “Now we need to build.”
It’s such a complex situation. I agree Moya although declared a genocide by the UN I do not believe Israel’s intention is to destroy an ethnic people group from the face of the earth, such as Hamas’ M.O. to eradicate Israeli’s. However, such a description is but a label, there is little doubt currently it is a horrific situation in terms of human suffering.
While the US/Trump is definitely leading the world on a merry dance, in the case of the Israel/Palestine conflict they are not the only fuel to the fire, with Qatar harbouring and funding Hamas leadership (for years), Iran funding Hezbollah, Hammas & the Houthi’s to attack Israel (for years) and Hamas originating from the Muslim brotherhood in Egypt - there are a few people I wouldn’t mind swatting with my fly swat. Mostly Hamas I confess for what evidence have they shown that they care for the people of Gaza they claim as their own? Making money by charging residents exorbitant rates for supplies?
Ideology is a very difficult thing to combat and I doubt it can be destroyed by fighting as the Israeli Gov’t is pursuing albeit that is how the Allies ended up having to respond to Nazi ideology. And then you have newly arrived settlers in the West Bank who are purposefully attacking Arab villages and farmers with the belief they are their enemies as God gave Jews the land. Biblically as a Christian I accept God did do this yet I also reckon with the words of Jesus love your enemy, notwithstanding it doesn’t seem like many of these local Arab residents have done anything to be considered enemies. However, Jews do not believe as the followers of Jesus do so maybe indeed the words of Jesus in Matthew to the original branch of the olive tree are to have two prophetic fulfillments, ‘For I tell you this, you will never see me again until you say, ‘Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord !’”
I also fear how the ordinary Palestinian/Arab/Bedouin citizen is going to be able to forgive or recover from the sheer scale of what they have suffered without turning to violence or bitterness when this does come to a close.
While being supportive of the Palestinian cause I suspect Egypt and Jordan aren’t so keen on opening their borders to refugees because of their own security, both having previously been entangled with the Muslim brotherhood. I think you lived in Egypt +Peter is that right? Did it take Egypt a long time to extradite the Muslim brotherhood from having a strong influence over their politics?
It seems from a distance that citizens of Israel are divided about their governments approach to the conflict alongside their own grief after October 7th…
"I think of the image of Peter the apostle - drawing his sword and cutting off the ear of the high priest’s servant. Our violence is ever-present, just waiting beneath the surface to pounce. Perhaps Jesus’s life and teachings only make sense in the context of warrior consciousness, and our struggle as individuals and as a species to survive and grow only make sense against this backdrop too."
https://www.tumblingages.co.nz/blog-2/warrior-church
Useful blogpost, thanks Mark!
Quoting your last paragraph: Materially, if the “warrior era” arises from a competition between tribes over wealth and resources, it must be “included and transcended” by addressing vast wealth inequalities and poverty as root causes for war and the preparation for war. [Yes!]
The US had ample opportunity to address inequalities, since say, the Civil Rights Act. But they've only tinkered rather than instituting real reform (e.g. on gerrymandering, Electoral College system, gun reform, healthcare). And in 2025 the wealth disparity is accelerating frighteningly fast!
And now I fear it's too late because of grievance politics, nationalism and religious extremism driving the culture war - amply illustrated by a video-clip of Kirk himself (his retweet, couple of days before his death).
https://x.com/WallStreetApes/status/1965144047368241313
So there's no transcending, and no such intent from those who hold power. Instead, the way of scapegoating and contempt. It's a "spiritual battle", there are "threats" ("combining forces to come after us") and "it's time the church stands and rises up against it". [The crowd cheers and whoops their approval]
A lot of people who call themselves Christian see themselves as spiritual warriors battling the forces of darkness as they aspire to occupy the high places of the Seven Mountains (Kirk was influenced by the Seven Mountains Mandate, from what I've read). In that ideology, enemies are to be crushed in the name of Jesus.
Unsurprisingly it reminds me of Israel's "Amalekite" rhetoric against Palestinians:
https://religiondispatches.org/netanyahus-genocidal-religious-rhetoric-isnt-just-an-appeal-to-the-israeli-right-he-has-another-constituency-in-mind/
Church/state separation is broken in the US; religious fervour's taking over. Just what I imagine the Founding Fathers sought to avoid!
Hi Liz,
I think the more meaningful "battle" (that gets missed in all the culture wars and identity politics) is with poverty and wealth inequality. That's how people like Trump got elected, surely. Why Reform is so big in the UK right now.
This made me more hopeful - it's a 10 minute plus clip about Bernie Sanders visiting West Virginia. Made me feel that deep down Americans aren't nearly as divided as Republican vs Democrat, Conservative v Progressive makes out.
https://youtu.be/RP8Oxe6OxJc?si=Gfh7oiE3SMMO8Iqd
Yes Mark, I completely agree the more meaningful "battle" is with poverty and wealth inequality. But notice how a woman in the video says to Bernie that she hadn't listened to him before, that "they painted you in a bad light". She finds it different listening to him in person. So how does the Right paint Democrats? They primarily paint them as godless, Marxist and demonic, people who support blood sacrifice (abortion). Trump told his followers to fight like hell or you won't have a country any more. It's pitched as an apocalyptic showdown. This is done at highly emotive massive rallies where the maga-pastors pray loud emotive prayers binding demonic powers and proclaiming their gratitude for their saviour President Donald Trump against whom the gates of hell will not prevail. This is just standard fare. And the masses lap up the performance - many seem addicted to these rallies (or "revivals", cough) and visit lots of them. I've seen so many personal accounts of families, churches and communities divided because of MAGA/Trump wedge politics.
Notice when a young guy stands up and asks what to do about the Democratic leadership who have abandoned them. And Bernie challenges him to get involved - "you have to fight! Take it back!". So there's division within the democrats themselves too - they've abandoned the rural poor (in this case because of the decline of Unions and consequent drop in funding). [An aside: note this video is marked "Fundraiser"]
Returning to the topic of Poverty and Wealth Inequality. I've recently started following Bishop William Barber of the the Poor Peoples Campaign and he works hard as an advocate for the poor - he's very clear this is on behalf of both black *and* white folk (he himself is black). Have you looked at what he's doing? He describes Bernie Sanders as his friend in this post from Aug 20, which serves as quite a good intro to look at:
https://ourmoralmoment.substack.com/p/what-this-moment-demands
A well written post Mark albeit I am not so conflicted about loving my enemies and leaving vengeance to God. As Jesus entrusted himself to the one who judges justly because he knew what was in the heart of man, I trust that God’s vengeance will be a just one.
I went like this 🙈 when hearing about Trumps ‘Department of War’!
America is a conundrum at present. There does seem to have been a change globally in the Western world re the ‘warrior’ stance. Like you Narnia/Aslan and WWII was my backdrop to an education if you like of what might be termed a noble battle. And I still dread to think what might have happened if Britain had decided to declare war against Germany at that point in time. My grandfather who fought always said there is no glory in war and he held no continuing dislike of Germany or Germans. For him it was an objective war against evil actions not a personal one.
Nowadays, however, I reckon the warrior has turned into more a the celebrity of a fan club. Less warrior more egotist. Values and virtues seem to have declined and instead it has descended into a rhetorical personally driven narrative where each ‘side’ is out to gain more kudos and followers, and the followers don’t appear to often engage their intellect before swallowing whatever toadstool is put before them.
I have never comprehended how the left/right political dichotomy also mirrors different demonations or church beliefs in the U.S. I do not think we should base our theology on politics or culture. This is why although I relate Mark to your ‘accept and transcend’ when it comes to Jesus’s take on violence, accept your inherent inclination and transcend/rise above it; and I do read this broadly as loving all, I do not extend this idea as you infer to be representative of embracing the beliefs of all. I maintain we need a plumb-line we need a moral compass and many is the time I have wrestled as I sided with God against myself as in my natural inclinations.
Inequality, poverty etc.. it does seem that for some time US politics appears to have been based more on whose your friend in a powerful place and how much money you have - I mean the inauguration of the president involves inviting business people who pay mega dollars to come so they can influence political policy!!!! Like bribery and corruption in plain sight! And that goes for both Republicans and Democrats. Give unto Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.
Thank you, Jean, for wise words in both posts.
I have come across other players in the Israel/Palestine conflict that readers might want to look at in the link below:
https://open.substack.com/pub/mrandrewfox/p/breaking-uk-canada-and-australia?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
Hi Moya, Andrew Fox should be read with caution.
E.g. https://aoav.org.uk/2025/when-is-a-journalist-a-military-target-former-british-major-and-pundit-andrew-fox-says-perhaps-not-as-often-as-they-should-be-why-his-argument-should-concern-us-all/
Thanks, Liz, I take your point that Fox’s arguments may not always align with what I think is right and just.
Though I guess everyone we read has to be taken with caution, as we quite likely won’t agree with all the positions they may take!
We're talking *genocide* though Moya, and Andrew Fox is trying to muddy the waters of (justified) condemnation of Israel's brutal actions against Palestinians. But maybe you're not supportive of the actions ACANZP's taken, with Baptists/Catholics.
22-Sept (The Guardian) : "Before Sunday’s announcements the state of Palestine was recognised by more than 140 of the 193 member states of the UN. The total is now 151."
There's also concern about Israel's plans for expansion in the West Bank - "Recognition that Palestine is a state with the right to self-determination is an attempt to show Israel cannot simply annex land that the international court of justice has declared to be illegally occupied." i.e. soon a two-state solution may not even be an option any more.
The article also has a handy map of which countries have recognised Palestine, and when - I found it handy.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/sep/19/what-uk-recognition-palestine-state-will-mean
Of course I don’t agree with or defend Israel’s actions in Gaza. But I am not at all sure that recognising a State of Palestine will actually help in bringing peace.
I think that Israel and Hamas are fighting two different wars and Israel has chosen the wrong one, by using force against an ideology.
What Jean wrote on 19/9/25, 10.50pm, makes sense to me, more than anything else I have read.
Not being "sure" isn't a reason to not do something! Leaders are taking what they believe to be the best course of action after deep consideration. And maybe it's working.. I see Trump is now saying the US will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank - I'm just off to read more about that....
The situation with Gaza is developing quickly, possibly in a positive direction. International pressure *can* still move mountains when properly deployed. I appreciate ACANZP participating with other denominations to try and do something. "Sustained principled resistance"* is worth making an effort for, and I hope and pray for a constructive outcome.
*I got the phrase from a paragraph in an essay by a commentator I follow on Substack:
"The deeper implication is that both the Ukraine and Gaza situations expose the fragility of authoritarian positioning when it confronts genuine power shifts rather than performative opposition. Zelenskyy’s technological innovation and international coalition-building, Palestinian international recognition and shifting American opinion—these represent the kind of sustained, principled resistance that authoritarian dominance theater cannot simply overwhelm through bluster and intimidation."
https://www.notesfromthecircus.com/p/the-face-saving-deal-netanyahus-retreat
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