'Gaza is not a religious issue': Advocates split on government harmony accord

RNZ News

4 days ago

Ethnic communities minister Mark Mitchell.
Photo:
RNZ / Mark Papalii
New Zealand's Muslim and Jewish leaders have signed a harmony and peace accord, but not everyone's happy with the idea.
The government-led initiative sets out a shared commitment to peace, solidarity, and social cohesion and will create a joint council between the two communities.
Governor-general Dame Cindy Kiro said it was not just symbolic, but would lead to action against discrimination and isolation.
"This accord is a powerful statement of unity, courage, and compassion. It reminds us that dialogue, even when difficult, is the foundation of a peaceful and inclusive nation."
Ethnic communities minister Mark Mitchell said it was important that global conflicts were not imported into New Zealand, and the accord signalled the beginning of work to support social cohesion.
The signed accord was presented at government House in Auckland today. About 70 people attended, including representatives of the New Zealand Jewish Council, His Highness the Aga Khan Council for Australia and New Zealand and the Jewish Community Security Group.
The Holocaust Centre of New Zealand said it was an historic accord that was a call to action for communities to support each other in the face of antisemitism, Islamophobia, racism, and bigotry.
"We owe it to our communities, and to future generations, to do the hard work of listening, understanding, and standing together against all forms of hate, including antisemitism and Islamophobia," said chair Deborah Hart.
"At a time of heightened tensions and a huge increase in antisemitism, we know that peaceful coexistence isn't always easy, but it is always worth striving for."
She declined to say whether the Israeli attacks on Gaza amounted to genocide, saying the Holocaust Centre does not make general statements on international conflicts.
Mitchell did not mention Gaza in his speech, saying afterwards that was because there were many other conflicts in the world at the moment.
"The focus obviously on our Muslim and our Jewish communities here is quite simply we're seeing a rise in Islamophobia and anti-Semitism around the world, our communities back here feel exposed. We don't want to import that conflict into our country. We still retain the ability to engage in peaceful protest, freedom of speech, but not to weaponise those things and use them in a violent or intimidatory way."
Asked if anyone from the Palestinian community had been invited to the event, he said the accord is a living document and any faith or ethnic leader would be welcome to sign it.
Co-convenor of Jewish group Dayenu Philippa Yasbek said there had been deep disagreements between the communities over foreign policy, and allegations of betrayal on both sides.
"I hope that this will repair the rift between part of the Jewish Community and the Muslim community - since the tragic events of 7th of October 2023 and the horrible fallout of the genocide in Gaza there been a lot of tensions between the Muslim and Jewish communities in New Zealand. But I don't think that that disagreement about overseas affairs should impact how we interact with each other in New Zealand.
"There is a lot that unites the communities so in the wake of international events and the rising tide of both Islamophobia and anti-Semitism - and the roots of that are often very similar - I think the two communities can work together very effectively to combat hatred."
Federation of Islamic Associations' spokesperson Abdur Razzaq said it was a good start and he wanted other faith groups and tangata whenua to be brought in.
"Nothing has been formalised in terms of the work programme, nothing has been formalised in terms of the membership or the terms of reference. This is the start of the conversation. And in the start of the conversation, we have to consult widely with our community."
Police data on hate crimes showed an increase since 2023, and about 60 percent of reported faith-based incidents were against Muslims, he said.
Not present were two advocacy groups which disagreed with the accord's focus.
Islamic Council of New Zealand (ICONZ) represents some Shia Muslims, and its president Dr Muhammad Sajjad Naqvi said the accord misframed the problem as being between religions.
"Advocacy that comes from faith can be a powerful force. We already work with numerous interfaith community initiatives, some formed at government initiative and waiting to really find their purpose. Those existing channels include more of the parties needed to address local threats, including Christian nationalism like that of Destiny Church. Perhaps government should resource those rather than starting something new."
Co-founder of Alternative Jewish Voices Marilyn Garson said the government should be more focused on the legal actions it should take than creating another multi-faith organisation. Gaza was not among the council's priorities and signatories are not required to acknowledge universal human rights, she said.
"It has broad implications to overlook our rights and international humanitarian law. As currently formulated, the council includes no direct Palestinian representation. That's not good enough. How can there be credible discussion of Aotearoa's ethnic safety - let alone advocacy for international action - without Palestinians?"
Both groups said there was no disharmony between the two groups in New Zealand, and it was a political conflict between Israel and Gaza.
"Gaza is not a religious issue, and this has never been a conflict between our faiths," said ICONZ co-founder Dr Abdul Monem. "In Gaza we see a massive violation of international law with horrifying humanitarian consequences. We place Israel's annihilating campaign against Gaza, the complicity of states and economies at the centre of our understanding - not religion. The first action to address the suffering in Gaza and ameliorate its effects here in Aotearoa must be government action. Our government needs to comply with international courts and act on this humanitarian calamity. That does not require a new council."
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