Rire Norman: Wrestling with War, Truth, and the Future of the Middle East

War is brutal and grotesque. My heart aches for everyone caught in this horrific web of conflict, division, and suffering — on all sides, in all lands.

And right now, social media is flooded with anti-war, anti-Israel sentiment.

People are quick to name, blame, and shame — without thought or critical thinking.

John Raine and David Lillis: Giselle Byrnes’ Opinion Piece, “Why Te Tiriti and not Gaza?” – a Counter View

Why Te Tiriti and not Gaza?

In an opinion piece, published in Massey News of 12th July 2024, Professor Giselle Byrnes, Provost of Massey University, emphasises the importance of universities remaining neutral on political matters and, appropriately in our view, not taking a partisan stance on the Israel-Hamas war. Professor Byrnes points out correctly that to take a political position would place the University at odds with the Education and Training Act 2020. She quotes the 1967 Chicago University Kalven Report, as we have done in previous pieces; for example, Reference 1.

Alexander Gillespie: The UN’s top court didn’t call for a ceasefire in Gaza......

......how does NZ respond now?

The provisional measures issued by International Court of Justice (ICJ) in South Africa’s case against Israel under the Genocide Convention was, on balance, a victory for Israel.

While South Africa’s application was not thrown out, and the ICJ accepted it could rule on what is happening in Gaza, there was no provisional order for an immediate ceasefire.