Embassy of the State of Palestine

The Palestinian Ambassador to Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific, Mr. Izzat Abdulhadi, visited New Zealand from 28 March to 2 April in order to conduct bilateral talks with the New Zealand government and to participate in an academic seminar hosted by the New Zealand Centre for Global Studies. During this trip, the Ambassador met the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr. Murray McCully, where he congratulated the New Zealand government on its new non-permanent membership of the UN Security Council. The Minister discussed with the Ambassador the intention of the New Zealand government to propose a motion to the Security Council aimed at helping resolve the Israel-Palestine conflict. The Palestinian Ambassador thanked the Minister for his willingness to propose such a resolution, but stressed that any such proposal should be coordinated and consulted with the State of Palestine. In their bilateral discussions, Minister McCully and Ambassador Abdulhadi discussed a number of matters, including the recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, negotiations with Israel and the efforts of the Palestinian government to join a number of international agencies and agreements, including the International Court of Justice (ICJ). On this point the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs expressed the concerns of the New Zealand government that Palestine joining the ICJ might undermine the Israel-Palestine peace process. Ambassador Abdulhadi reaffirmed that joining the ICJ is part of the current Palestinian strategy towards the internationalisation of the conflict and effort towards Palestinian recognition at a global level.

While in New Zealand, Ambassador Abdulhadi also met with the shadow spokesperson for Foreign Affairs, Mr. David Shearer, as well as Mr. Mark Mitchell, Chair of the Parliamentary Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Select Committee, and MPs from the Green Party of New Zealand. The Ambassador stressed the importance of parliamentary visits to the Occupied Palestinian Territories in order for MPs to further understand the plight of the Palestinian people. He also proposed a Palestinian friendship committee to the New Zealand parliament, an idea that was welcomed. Ambassador Abdulhadi praised the support of the New Zealand government in supporting Palestinian rights and efforts towards self-determination.