Deacon in clergy sit-in at Minister’s office over Palestine

Deacon Chris Sullivan of St Mark’s Parish in Pakuranga and a Catholic layperson joined Anglicans Rev. Philippa Young and Rev. Amilie Paynter in the “prayerful sit-in” at Education Minister Erica Stanford’s office in Browns Bay on September 29.

Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine said the protest came after two people were denied entry to meet with the staffers of the electoral office.

The protestors chained themselves at the doorway and were refusing to leave until “they receive a timeframe on when the Government will implement sanctions against Israel, risking arrest”.

The protest comes almost two weeks after some clergy staged a protest over Gaza at the office of Finance Minister Nicola Willis in Johnsonville, Wellington.

On the Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine Facebook page, Deacon Sullivan said “Jesus fed the hungry and healed the sick. That’s why I must act to stop Israel’s deliberate starvation and sickening of people by blocking aid”.

“If the New Zealand Government is looking to see ‘real actions rather than rhetoric’ to help end the slaughter, then they should implement carefully targeted sanctions on Israel, as was done to peacefully help end apartheid in South Africa,” Deacon Sullivan said.

Foreign Minister Winston Peters told the United Nations on Saturday that New Zealand would not yet recognise a Palestinian state, Radio New Zealand reported. Mr Peters said the Government had “one opportunity” to recognise Palestinian statehood and it made better sense to do so once conditions offered greater prospects for peace.

Rev. Young told RNZ that the clergy protesters had a letter for Ms Stanford, outlining their concerns and calls for sanctions.

“We would like a chance to deliver our letter, and we would like some clarity around a timeframe of when our Government intends to impose sanctions on the state of Israel,” she said.

Rev. Young said they wanted an audience with Ms Stanford. An open invitation was issued to anyone to join a prayer session at the protest site on Monday evening.

“We say recognise the state of Palestine, impose sanctions on the state of Israel, and let’s work hard to see those conditions established whereby Palestinian statehood can function well.”

Ms Stanford told Stuff everyone had the right to protest, but “this isn’t the ideal way to do it”. She said the protest was disrupting neighbouring businesses.

“If these people would like a meeting, they should follow the same process that everyone else does,” she said.

FULL STORY

Clergy protest outside Minister’s office after Palestine decision (By Poppy Clark/Stuff)

Priests chain themselves to MP’s Auckland office over Gaza stance (Radio New Zealand)

Facebook (Aotearoa Christians for Peace in Palestine)