Parliament's stance on anti-Semitism eases strains with Israel

4.00pm

JERUSALEM - Diplomatic sources in Israel view Tuesday's NZ parliamentary resolution condemning anti-Semitism as a crack in the wall of sanctions.

High level ties were frozen by Prime Minister Helen Clark in the wake of two suspected Mossad agents being convicted of trying to fraudulently obtain a New Zealand passport.

The sanctions cover a range of high-level government-to-government diplomatic, political and commercial ties and exchanges, but do not restrict Israeli citizens from applying for tourist visas to New Zealand.

A diplomatic source here welcomed the decision by the Speaker of New Zealand's Parliament, Jonathan Hunt, to transmit a copy of the resolution with a record of the speeches by party leaders to his Israeli counterpart.

Speaking on condition of anonymity, the source told NZPA: "It (the resolution) helps to disperse the murky atmosphere engulfing New Zealand's Jewish community since the passport affair broke in April and reaffirms their close and legitimate ties to the State of Israel."

New Zealand was genuinely appalled by the recent desecration of Jewish tombstones in Wellington, the source added.

Speaking on Israel Radio earlier this week, Labour politician and chairman of the Israel-New Zealand parliamentary friendship committee Yitzhak Herzog said he was "worried by the display of anti-Semitism foreign to the country and the bad relations ensuing from the passport scam".

"Israel would continue to monitor the situation and demand that New Zealand authorities act aggressively to smother them," he said.

Israeli Knesset Speaker Reuven Rivlin praised New Zealand's parliament for its resolution condemning acts of anti-Semitism.

In a note to Mr Hunt, published on the Knesset's Hebrew website, Mr Rivlin wrote: "I congratulate your parliament's unanimous decision on its resolute and uncompromising stand against acts of anti-Semitism and racism.

"New Zealand's parliament stands at the forefront of countries who condemn ugly manifestations of anti-Semitism and racism rampant in different parts of the world but which, to our regret, have not excluded New Zealand. Your resolution clearly and unambiguously asserts that anti-Semitism and racism is to be outlawed and uprooted."

Ending his note in an indirect reference to the passport affair, Mr Rivlin wrote: "The campaign against anti-Semitism must be waged at all costs and disputes between states should not be linked to this ugly phenomenon.

"God bless you and all members of your parliament and the people of New Zealand in their brave fight against anti-Semitism."

- NZPA