Phil Goff: Former Foreign Minister on the decision to recognise Palestine as a state, call for further action

A critical decision lies before New Zealand on whether to recognise Palestinian statehood. 

Australia's pledged to recognise Palestine at the UN General Assembly in September, following suit with countries like France, Canada, and the UK. 

Our Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed we will reach a formal decision next month.

Former Foreign Minister Phil Goff told Mike Hosking the move would send a message to Israel its action is unacceptable, and would affirm the Palestinian people's rights to a homeland.  

He says it supports a two state solution, which New Zealand backs and which Israel itself agreed to more than 30 years ago. 

Goff says it's a measure we should take, but it won't resolve the appalling things happening to the Palestinian people.  

He says New Zealand should be doing more to back up its words with action, as we tend to talk-the-talk without having the guts to do anything about it.  

LISTEN ABOVE 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
So we seem to have built up ahead of steam
over recognizing Palestine. Australia looks like they'll do the business
at the United Nations next month. They joined Canada and
France possibly the UK. Phil GoF as the former Foreign
Minister and is with US film Morning Yeah, morning wakes.
Can't I can't work out what the phizz is about.
Say this afternoon we announced Palestine's estate, We recognize it
to what end? For what purpose?

Speaker 2 (00:21):
It seems a clear and strong message from New Zealand
to the Israeli government that it's moves to make life
unbearable for Palestinians and Gaza and to settle annex the
West Bank are unacceptable as well as being long and
illegal under international law, and really reaffirms our belief that
Palestine and people have a right to a homeland of

(00:42):
their own alongside Israel. It supports the two state solution,
which New Zealand has supported and which Israel itself agree
to more than thirty years ago. But as Penny Wong
said in Australia yesterday, I think if you don't recognize
Palestine Palestine now as an entity, it probably won't exist
for very long given what Israel is doing in the

(01:04):
Middle East at the present time.

Speaker 1 (01:05):
But given one hundred and fifty countries already recognized, it
hasn't stopped the thing, has it.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
No. No, Look, it's a measure that we should take,
but by itself it doesn't resolve the appalling things that
are happening in Gaza to the Palestinian people. And that
means that you know, New Zealand should be taking doing
more to back up. It works with action there as well.
We talk the talk, but we don't seem to have

(01:32):
the guts to do anything to back up what we're saying.
You know, we just saw a journalist for Al Jazeera
kill targeted and killed deliberately by the Israelis yesterday. This
on top of you know, sixty thousand deaths, probably one
hundred thousand plus injuries, people starving. Even Trump says people
are starving, and who of course says no, no, it's

(01:53):
not happening. Look, it's time to take decisive action. This
is unacceptable. New Zealanders are outraged and the national community
is outraged.

Speaker 1 (02:01):
All right, nice to talk to you, appreciate and apologies
for the fine field GoF former Foreign Affairs Minister with
US This Morning. For more from the mic Asking Breakfast,
listen live to News Talks it' B from six am weekdays,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio