New Zealand's Labour Party Pledges Recognition of State of Palestine if Re-Elected

Wellington, MINA – New Zealand’s ruling Labour Party plans to recognize State of Palestine if re-elected on 14 October this year.

As quoted from Middle East Monitor on Tuesday, the commitment on Labour Party entails extending an invitation to the head of General Delegation of Palestine allowing them to present their credentials as an Ambassador to New Zealand.

The action would align New Zealand with the prevailing sentiment observed at the United Nations, where 139 put of 193 member states have reconized the sovereignity of Palestine.

Advocacy Organizations like Justice for Palestine and Alternative Jewish Voices have expressed their support for the commitment.

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On the 2020 election, Labour Party secured half of the total vote, resulting in a significant boost in its representation in the House of Representative with a total of 65 seats. The historic victory marked for the first time since 1996 that a single party obtained enough seats to govern without a coalition.

Former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made the announcement of her resignation in January and her successor, Chris Hipkins, assumed the role of party leader and prime minister.

Hipkins held a meeting with Izzat Salah Abdulhadi in February, who serves as the head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific.

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While New Zealand has not officially recognised Palestine as a sovereign state, it has consistently condemned the Israeli occupation. Additionally, New Zealand has been a strong advocate for the two-state solution.

Justice for Palestine spokesperson, Neil Ballantyne, said: “It’s great to see the Labour Party joining the Green Party in making a commitment to recognize Palestine if elected. In doing so they are continuing Aotearoa New Zealand’s tradition of taking independent and principled stances on foreign policy issues from nuclear free to standing up against apartheid.”

“We have faith that just as ordinary New Zealanders were not prepared to stand by in silence while the South African government maintained an apartheid regime, we will not be silent while Palestinians suffer similar indignities and will reward those politicians who are taking this courageous stance, ” he continued. (T/RE1/P2)

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Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)