Today the New Zealand Council of Trade Unions responded to calls for support from the Palestine General Federation of Trade Unions and the International Trade Union Confederation by calling on the New Zealand Government to place a number of sanctions on Israel, such as Revoking the credentials of the Israeli Ambassador to New Zealand and ending the ‘Working Holiday Scheme’ for young Israelis. The National Government is unlikely to adopt these or any other of the union movements suggested actions. Their failure to act will show a double standard in international relations.

The two sanctions mentioned above are strikingly similar to sanctions the previous government placed on Fiji. In 2006 New Zealand froze Fiji’s participation in the Recognised Seasonal Employer scheme, designed to help Pacific Islanders gain better access to seasonal work opportunities in New Zealand. While the scheme has its flaws, such a policy has a far greater effect on Fijians than the same sanction would have on Israel. As I have noted previously, Fiji is currently in great need of such employment opportunities, but applied to Israel only a small number of tourists would be affected.

Rather than taking a principled stance on human rights issues around the world New Zealand is using its foreign policy to bully its third world neighbors in such a way that will hurt citizens and not the military. Meanwhile, Israeli atrocities in Gaza continue, leaving at least 1,105 Palestinians dead. If New Zealand’s anti-war movement grows, the government could be forced to change its stance.