John MacDonald: Weren't we the little country that roared?

Author: John MacDonald,
Publish Date: Thu, 10 Sep 2026, 12:36pm

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The West Bank Jewish settlement of Efrat: Booking.com said it plans to add warnings to listings in the Israeli-occupied settlements. Photo / Maya Alleruzzo, AP

What a load of nonsense from the Government about New Zealand not joining our international partners in trade bans over what Britain is describing as the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

It’s saying that it won’t be joining the UK, France and Canada in banning goods from illegal Israeli settlements because New Zealand doesn’t mix trade and politics.

Or, more specifically, New Zealand doesn’t use trade bans to make political points.

I’m not the only person thinking that’s a load of nonsense, either.

International law expert Al Gillespie is saying today that New Zealand should be joining the trade sanctions. Because, despite what the Government says, we have actually done it before.

After Russia invaded Ukraine, New Zealand slapped a 35 percent tariff on all imports from Russia; we banned the import of oil, gas, coal and gold from Russia; and we banned exports to Russia and Belarus.

But I suppose you’ve got to hand it to the Government for being consistent.

Last year, it resisted recognising Palestine as a state.

Now it’s saying it won’t be following the lead of the UK, France and Canada. Which have announced a ban on goods from illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank. And a ban on companies providing finance, construction, infrastructure, real estate and advertising services for the settlements. Because of what it explicitly says is the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians.

The New Zealand Government isn’t budging. Because it’s scared of Israel and the United States.

Back in March, former Foreign Affairs Minister Phil Goff said New Zealand no longer had the courage to speak freely on international matters.

That was in relation to the Government’s wishy-washy response to Israel and the United States attacking Iran. I bet he’d say the exact same thing today.

And he’d be right. Because, if we want to be an independent, confident country, we have to take a stand on things. Even if it means brassing-off the superpowers.

Just like we did back in the 1980s with the United States and their nuclear ships.

But we have lost the courage to speak freely. Courage we used to have in spades.

Even when we see allies like Britain talking about ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in the Israeli settlements. Settlements which, by the way, are illegal under international law.

Where the number of settlers has risen in the past 30-odd years from 270,000 to about 770,000 today.

Even when we hear Britain’s Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband say things like: “The British Government agrees that there is ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in areas of the West Bank, perpetrated by settler terrorists.”

The New Zealand of today hears those things, but isn’t moved. The strongest thing the Government can say is that it’s "concerned" about settlements that breach international law.

The opposition parties say we’re a global embarrassment not getting involved.

Labour Leader Chris Hipkins says, if he was in charge, we would be joining-in with the sanctions. Saying: “These are our friends who are now saying that what Israel is doing is wrong, and they should be sanctioned for it. New Zealand should be joining them and sending a very similar strong message.”

I’m as realistic as the next person and I know that sanctions have their limitations in terms of influencing change.

And yes, I’m easy-oasey about recognising Palestine as a state. Because that doesn’t change its status. It’s only the United Nations that can do that.

But allegations of ethnic cleansing is a different story. And when you have the likes of Britain, France and Canada saying enough is enough, New Zealand can’t ignore it.

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