What just happened with Israel?

Written By: - Date published: 7:21 am, September 16th, 2020 - 40 comments
Categories: Donald Trump, israel, Palestine, uncategorized - Tags:

Just two months before election day, Donald Trump appears to have won a diplomatic coup in the Middle East.

The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain have normalised relations with the state of Israel.

But this latest Arab-Israeli entente is neither a bolt from the blue nor the result of months of delicate shuttle diplomacy by the Trump administration.

Israel and the gulf Arab states began establishing tentative links after the Oslo peace accords between Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization in 1993. They opened trade missions in each other’s capitals, although several were closed after a surge of Israeli Palestinian violence in the second Intifada, which erupted in 2000.

The chance for progress came, paradoxically, because of Arab alarm over Trump’s effort to broker an Israeli-Palestinian peace accord. The Trump plan was heavily tilted toward Israel, essentially giving Netanyahu a green light to annex territory in the occupied West Bank.

For the gulf Arabs, annexation would be a fatal blow to closer ties with Israel. Under the Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative, Israel would win full recognition from the Arab world only by resolving its conflict with the Palestinians and granting their aspiration for statehood.

It fell to a well-connected diplomat from the United Arab Emirates, Yousaef al-Otaiba, to lay out the choice for Israel. In a column on the front page of a Hebrew-language newspaper, Yediyoth Ahronoth, in June, al-Otaiba as Ambassador to Washington, told the israelis they could have annexation or normalisation – but not both. The Ambassador approached Jared Kushner with the same message. It was received.

The Emiratis had other reasons for moving now. It helped seal their purchase of sophisticated American weapons: F-35 fighter jets, Reaper drones and EA-18G Growler jets. Analysts say Bahrain’s move could help that country secure air defense systems from the United States. Interestingly, Qatar has ruled normalisation out for now.

By playing the “normalisation’ card so late in Trump’s term, the UAE and Bahrain are betting Trump will win again, Trump remains Israel’s de facto Ambassador, and Israel can be trusted to keep its word and not keep annexing by stealth anyway. Let’s see how that works out.

These normalisation deals will on one hand prop up Arab authoritarianism and restore the pre-Arab Spring role of the U.S. as a protector of Arab regimes appeasing Israel. But it will also allow Israeli commerce to do business direct with Arab states, which is desperately needed in a recession.

Whether Trump’s team did the spadework or not, this is an electoral gift which he is playing up on television to the hilt.

40 comments on “What just happened with Israel? ”

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  1. Sabine 1
    16 September 2020 at 7:49 am

    pretty much anyone is thinking that trump 'will win again' one way or another.

    as for this deal? Who knows, more weapons for people who don't need them, more misery for the people that are under permanent curfew and occupation, and i don't think any one really gives a fuck.

  2. Barfly 2
    16 September 2020 at 8:06 am

    "Israel can be trusted to keep its word and not keep annexing by stealth anyway."

    Yeah ….nah

    • Andre 2.1
      16 September 2020 at 9:18 am

      Bottom line is Israel may stop annexations when the entire West Bank and Golan Heights are internationally recognised as undisputed Israel territory. That will progress slower or faster depending on who is in charge in Israel at any moment, there may be even some tiny temporary reversals along the way if Israelis ever manage to elect someone moderately progressive instead of their usual Morlocks.

      But even after the West Bank and Golan Heights are fully absorbed, the more likely outcome is Israel will still find ways to nibble away at its neighbours.

  3. RedLogix 3
    16 September 2020 at 8:52 am

    The bottom line here is Iran. Understanding the ME means keeping the Persian Shi'a/Arabic Shi'ite division line in mind. It’s historically far more important than the rather recent squabbles they’ve had with the modern state of Israel.

    While the US has been involved in brokering this extraordinary deal, the motivation to get the players to the table was simple enough. Americans are done managing the world, and the Americans are especially done managing the ME. They’re going home. Troop rotations have outnumbered permanent deployments in-region for years. The Iraqi deployment is quickly approaching zero. The Syrian deployment is no longer more than a rounding error. Only Afghanistan remains as a meaningful deployment, and it’s one that few Americans want to continue. The naval base in Bahrain and operations center in Qatar only continue existing to service the Afghan deployment.

    From the UAE point of view this is an unmitigated disaster. They (and their fellow Gulf states of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar) don’t care what US troops do in the Middle East or how many locals they kill or how many US troops die at the locals’ hands. They simply want the Americans present – both regionally and around the world. So long as the global superpower is active, the Gulf States don’t have to worry about guarding the production, processing, and exporting infrastructure for their oil and natural gas. So long as the Americans are globally engaged and guaranteeing freedom of the seas for all, they know their exports will safely arrive at their customers’ ports.

    Now this is all been taken off the table, and these Gulf states are utterly unable to defend themselves; or more importantly the flow of oil money on which they utterly depend. Along with Saudi, they look to several significant sources of threat.

    Iran for the moment doesn't pose an imminent threat, but it's long term ally Russia remains in the wings, and it's new BFF China has an active strategic program with them. Re-arming Iran with modern weapons would rapidly shift the landscape, and this could be achieved if Xi Xinping simply said yes. This would trigger an existential rearrangement of the strategic pieces on the board overnight.

    The Gulf states and Saudi are not really modern nations, they're medieval dynasties without the GoT theatrics. All of them have internal populations who're deeply oppressed and ripe for disruption.

    And then without the US Navy providing the default security reality, the entire region is wide open to any expeditionary force to sail a few warships into the Gulf under the pretext of 'protecting oil shipments'.

    None of these Arabic states have effective military capacity of their own that's capable of facing down a determined invader, and sitting in the most unstable, historically turbulent region of the world, they're all feeling more than a little vulnerable right now. And this is before we factor in any regional ambitions Turkey might have if they decide expanding northward into the Balkans or Greece is a little too hard for the time being.

    This makes Israel an enticing ally for these Arabic states. Of course there will never be IDF boots on the ground in Mecca, but there is a great deal that the Israeli's can do to assist in terms of intelligence, training, equipment and cyberwar they can do without leaving the office. And before anyone asks, no the Arabic states truly do not care about the Palestinians, never did, never will. What we are seeing here is an opening move in a new post-US global reality; things we took for granted and never imagined possible … will suddenly come to life.

    The next shoe to fall will be some form of arrangement with Saudi.

    • Draco T Bastard 3.1
      16 September 2020 at 12:45 pm

      Re-arming Iran with modern weapons would rapidly shift the landscape, and this could be achieved if Xi Xinping simply said yes.

      I suspect that Iran isn't even asking as they're developing and producing their own modern weapons.

      Just how true either of those articles may be up for debate but, IMO, they'd be close enough.

      And then without the US Navy providing the default security reality, the entire region is wide open to any expeditionary force to sail a few warships into the Gulf under the pretext of 'protecting oil shipments'.

      What we are seeing here is an opening move in a new post-US global reality; things we took for granted and never imagined possible … will suddenly come to life.

      Which is the same reason why I keep saying that we need to build up our own defensive capabilities up to and including developing and producing our own weapons. The world has shown itself to be not as benign as many believe and the US is pulling back its forces as it heads down the same path as Ancient Rome.

      And before anyone asks, no the Arabic states truly do not care about the Palestinians, never did, never will.

      QFT

    • Ad 3.2
      16 September 2020 at 4:09 pm

      I don't really think the United States is going anywhere from the Arabian Gulf.

      They have pretty big naval and air bases in Bahrain, air bases in Iraq, army, navy and airforce camps in Kuwait, four airports in Oman and two whopper naval ports, whopper-huge air and army bases in Qatar, and still has a town dedicated for US military personnel in Saudi Arabia. Still true they've pretty much got out of Syria and are greatly decreasing in Iraq.

      Further afield there's their bases in Jordan and Israel. They ain't letting those go either.

      If Oman and Jordan and other Arab states come on board with Israel, a pretty strong bulwark against Turkicic and Iranian threat has been formed in the space of a week.

      I don't see anything fast happening with Israel and Saudi Arabia officially, but just getting Saudi Arabia to stay silent on all these Gulf States aligning with Israel is a remarkable step all by itself. Plenty more of those desalination investments to go, as well as intelligence and security deals.

      The US presence in the Middle East survived Obama and trump, and will certainly survive the next guy as well.

  4. Tiger Mountain 4
    16 September 2020 at 9:01 am

    The Mid East is jam packed with opportunist authoritarians and theocrats all looking for leverage–who do not give one about Palestinians when it comes down to it. The civilian populations of various states may abstractly care, but practical solidarity is what is needed. Open supply lines for international humanitarian aid to Gaza etc.

    Some New Zealanders that get that Gaza is a modern day ‘Warswaw Ghetto’, endangered their lives to try and get medical supplies in with Kia Ora Gaza. The likes of Roger Fowler, Mike Treen and Marama Davidson should be celebrated more.

    It remains obscene that “anti semitism” is invoked over BDS and anyone that challenges the Israeli Apartheid State and Military.

  5. Tricledrown 5
    16 September 2020 at 9:47 am

    This is a weapons sales pact the US will finally be able to sell the US$125 billion of military state of the art fighter jets to the UAE after murdering Khashoggi .

    Trump and fellow signatories distracting from their equally corrupt practices.

    • Wayne 5.1
      16 September 2020 at 3:36 pm

      UAE didn't murder Khashoggi, as you seem to imply. That is a Saudi issue.

      As for these peace arrangements, what they say is that the Palestinians are no longer the key negotiators about themselves. If these deals set a trend, then it may be the Palestinians will finally negotiate, but history says that the Palestinians never miss a chance to miss a chance.

      If they had negotiated a deal in 1994 (Oslo) or in 2000 (Clinton) they would have got a much better deal than they will ever manage now.

      • swordfish 5.1.1
        16 September 2020 at 11:31 pm

        but history says that the Palestinians never miss a chance to miss a chance.

        A mindless repetition of the slogan trotted out by Israeli Apologists everywhere.

        Close analysis of the various negotiations suggests the polar opposite.

  6. swordfish 6
    16 September 2020 at 10:37 am

    .
    Norman Finkelstein is generally the sharpest (and most well-informed) analyst of the Arab-Israeli conflict … this is my summary of one of his key insights over recent weeks:

    Crucially, UAE recognition shows Arab States can now Cross the Rubicon and recognise Israel with little if any domestic repercussions.

    30, 40, 50 years ago, the Palestinian cause commanded huge moral popular authority in the Arab World … it held profound symbolic power for ordinary people throughout the Middle East to the extent that Arab leaders genuinely feared the consequences for their Regimes if they betrayed the cause.(it arguably cost Sadat his life, for instance).

    Fast forward to today … the Palestinian cause no longer possesses much moral power at all among Arab people … first & foremost because the Palestinan Authority have degenerated into highly corrupt, financially-dependent collaborators with US-Israel, acting as Israel's de-facto Security Force on the West Bank, heavily implicated in punishing the people of Gaza & suppressing solidarity demonstrations elsewhere. They're essentially self-interested US-Israeli puppets who have entirely tainted all their potential moral authority in the wider Arab World.

    Finkelstein also points out that Israel has already carried out a de-facto annexation of the Palestinian Territories. Under International Law, the most significant feature of an Occupation is its temporary staus … after 53 years of often brutal occupation & the slow, systematic ethnic cleansing of ever-larger areas of the West Bank, you'd now have to call this status-quo a clandestine annexation, albeit with the unwanted Palestinian population still resident amongst the massive influx of illegal Israeli Settlers.

    • Dennis Frank 6.1
      16 September 2020 at 10:56 am

      My guess is they watched China get away with it. "Hey, the UN defers to realpolitik! That means states can expand via foreign policy plus hegemony! Let's do this!"

    • RedLogix 6.2
      16 September 2020 at 11:08 am

      If the Arab world had ever actually cared about the Palestinian people they might have recognised the legality of the state of Israel, accepted the open flow of refugees from those who wanted to leave, in exchange for a solid lump of compensation from the Jewish state.

      But instead political posturing at the huge expense ordinary Palestinians is what happened instead.

      Well now the Americans have finally stopped getting suckered into the swamp and are leaving, all of a sudden these same Arab states are realising that maybe a strong Israel might be their best friend after all. After all they all have roughly the same purposes in mind, containment of Iran and a resurgent, nationalistic Turkey just over the northern horizon.

      The unspoken player in this drama is China, who desperately wants to neutralise India. For this reason China is running a distraction play in the Himalayas, establishing naval bases in the Indian Ocean, and working hard to build an alliance with Iran. This is motivated primarily by the need to ensure the Indian navy is never strong enough to threat the supertankers shipping oil right past the Indian coast, and longer term to ensure Tibet and India do not build sufficient political and military capacity to re-take the Tibetan plateau.

      But right now the urgent question in the ME is just how close does the Iranian regime want to cuddle up to Xi Xinping? They must know the risks, but have few other options right now.

      • joe90 6.2.1
        16 September 2020 at 1:11 pm

        If the Arab world had ever actually cared about the Palestinian people

        Arab people do care about the Palestinian people. The totalitarian thugs running Arab countries don't, and they've taken a punt that aligning themselves with Israel will ensure their political survival.

        https://twitter.com/iyad_elbaghdadi/status/1305178757712482304

        • Tiger Mountain 6.2.1.1
          16 September 2020 at 1:26 pm

          joe90, for once, draws attention to a pertinent point.

          Respected activists, citizens, and pundits that know that part of the world have said for years that many of “the people” in the Mid East support the Palestinian cause, but remain thwarted by authoritarian and autocratic leaders and systems.

          There were supply line tunnels for christ sakes from Egypt that were closed. Hundreds of UN Resolutions remain unobserved. It is multi faceted geo politics I guess that has prevented resolution so far.

          There are apparently regular weekly demos outside Mr Netanyahu’s house–“the Crime Minister” so the Apartheid state of Israel does have some opposition forces at least.

        • RedLogix 6.2.1.2
          16 September 2020 at 2:23 pm

          I didn't say there isn't wide and legitimate support for the Palestinian cause, but anyone with half a brain cell understands that Israel isn't going away.

          This means although the Palestinians drew one of history's many short straws, the only valid question now is how to minimise their suffering, particularly in Gaza, and build an alternative future that doesn't involve flushing the Jews back into the sea. This is a problem that some hard headed negotiation and money can solve. And the Jewish state has plenty of both. Recognising the Israeli state is the first and promising step on the path to reconciliation.

          Anything else is just posturing for narrow political effects.

          • Wayne 6.2.1.2.1
            16 September 2020 at 3:42 pm

            As Red Logix points out, there may be a large percentage popular support for Palestine, but the depth of it has weakened. Not many are prepared to do much to actually support the Palestinians.

            Palestine needs to wake up to this reality and deal on the basis of fact, not sentiment.

            Having been to Israel on a number of occasions, it is clear that Israel is much stronger and more secure than it was a few decades ago. It has less interaction with Palestine than previously and is less threatened by them.

      • Ad 6.2.2
        16 September 2020 at 4:41 pm

        China certainly has big commercial and infrastructure relationships with Iran, but it spreads its risks concerning Middle Eastern oil much broader than Iran. Where it gets its oil from as of last year:

        1. Saudi Arabia: US$40.1 billion (16.8% of China’s total imported crude oil)
        2. Russia: $36.5 billion (15.3%)
        3. Iraq: $23.7 billion (9.9%)
        4. Angola: $22.7 billion (9.5%)
        5. Brazil: $18.5 billion (7.8%)
        6. Oman: $16.4 billion (6.9%)
        7. Kuwait: $10.8 billion (4.5%)
        8. United Arab Emirates: $7.3 billion (3.1%)
        9. Iran: $7.1 billion (3%)

        China's Saudi relationship is pretty strong after 30 years of diplomatic ties that they celebrated this year. Won't supplant the US-Saudi relationship and has no need to. China is pretty good at walking and chewing gum at the same time in this region.

        • RedLogix 6.2.2.1
          16 September 2020 at 8:19 pm

          Then again you get $400b deals like this one:

          China, sensing America’s internal political difficulties amidst social justice protests and a poor COVID-19 response, is taking off the gloves: Beijing is said to be in the final stages of approving a $400 billion economic and security deal with Tehran. In addition to massive infrastructure investments, the agreement envisions closer cooperation on defense and intelligence sharing, and is rumored to include discounts for Iranian oil. If finalized, the PRC would gain massive influence in this geopolitically critical region, and simultaneously throw a lifeline to the embattled Mullah Regime.

        • RedLogix 6.2.2.2
          16 September 2020 at 9:44 pm

          Also India controls the Andaman Islands, right at the entrance of the Malacca Straits, where almost all that oil you list must pass through. And the PLAN at present has no ability to prevent an Indian blockade of their oil supply.

          Just to put this into perspective China imports around 12m barrels a day and the typical supertanker runs to about 1.2m barrels. That's something in the order of 9 tankers that have to arrive into Shanghai every damned day. It's a two week trip from the Gulf, so there is a string of about 130 tankers making the journey all the time, plus the same number making the trip back.

          Disrupting this essential traffic would bring China to it's knees within a month or so. Considering that supertankers have been hijacked by Somalis in speedboats it's a trivial task to run a blockade on them, and the Chinese are very aware of this vulnerability.

  7. Byd0nz 7
    16 September 2020 at 10:39 am

    The bottom line is Israel is an illegal state gifted to them by the bullshit of Balfour and Jewish terrorism of the time.

    • Draco T Bastard 7.1
      16 September 2020 at 12:53 pm

      The 'gift' happened under the mandate of the newly arisen UN and was fully against one of its stated purposes of protecting nations.

  8. greywarshark 8
    16 September 2020 at 11:31 am

    What a tangled web. Very educational input about this post.

    • Tiger Mountain 8.1
      16 September 2020 at 1:15 pm

      Yes indeed greywarshark. Until announced otherwise, it seems the US will still be multi billion bankrolling, and supplying arms and hi-tech to Israel.

      In all my years of political involvement the plight of Palestinians is one of the longest running awful situations that remains unresolved.

  9. McFlock 9
    16 September 2020 at 1:26 pm

    This is also a piece of good news for Bibi, who has his own internal problems in Israel. So he'll lift the accelerator and let the slow genocide coast along for a bit.

  10. Siobhan 10
    16 September 2020 at 3:23 pm

    It will be interesting to see how things pan out under a Harris administration*. Looking at her history and public statements it certainly doesn't bode well for the Palestinians.

    https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/views-on-israel-of-u-s-presidential-candidates-2020-kamala-harris

    * “A Harris administration, together with Joe Biden as the president of the United States,”…her words.

    https://nypost.com/2020/09/15/kamala-harris-accidentally-touts-plan-under-harris-administration/

  11. Peter 11
    16 September 2020 at 3:50 pm

    What just happened with Israel? The Greatest President of All Time just created peace forever in the Middle East.

    He might not have said exactly that but that's how it'll go. Next step? peace in the USA!

  12. Austringer 12
    16 September 2020 at 8:41 pm

    Meet this new deal, is it not the same with the old capitalist exploiters deal, you agree talk and we will call it progress,or should we America call it "A MORE PROTECTIVE DEAL" for our friends.

  13. Stuart Munro 13
    16 September 2020 at 9:56 pm

    Well I wouldn't read too much into it. The UAE, if it wishes to preserve its independence, cannot be truly in the pocket of any of the major powers in the region. Saudi, a traditional link, will likely remain truculent until their youthful de facto monarch no longer finds cutting up outspoken citizens entertaining – but he cannot readily deny religious access without losing status, so the door does not close entirely on the UAE. The Covid downturn is going to hit all the smaller countries in the region fairly hard – a few points in trade with Israel will soften the blow and decrease the severity of civil unrest.

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    In the ever-evolving world of technology, server-based computing has emerged as a cornerstone of modern digital infrastructure. This article delves into the concept of server-based computing, exploring its various forms, benefits, challenges, and its impact on the way we work and interact with technology. Understanding Server-Based Computing: At its core, ...
    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    18 hours ago

  • Vroom vroom go the big red trucks
    The absolute brass neck of this guy.We want more medical doctors, not more spin doctors, Luxon was saying a couple of weeks ago, and now we’re told the guy has seven salaried adults on TikTok duty. Sorry, doing social media. The absolute brass neck of it. The irony that the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    18 hours ago

  • Jones finds $410,000 to help the government muscle in on a spat project
    Buzz from the Beehive Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones relishes spatting and eagerly takes issue with environmentalists who criticise his enthusiasm for resource development. He relishes helping the fishing industry too. And so today, while the media are making much of the latest culling in the public service to ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    19 hours ago

  • Again, hate crimes are not necessarily terrorism.
    Having written, taught and worked for the US government on issues involving unconventional warfare and terrorism for 30-odd years, two things irritate me the most when the subject is discussed in public. The first is the Johnny-come-lately academics-turned-media commentators who … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    22 hours ago

  • Despair – construction consenting edition
    Eric Crampton writes – Kainga Ora is the government’s house building agency. It’s been building a lot of social housing. Kainga Ora has its own (but independent) consenting authority, Consentium. It’s a neat idea. Rather than have to deal with building consents across each different territorial authority, Kainga Ora ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    22 hours ago

  • Coalition promises – will the Govt keep the commitment to keep Kiwis equal before the law?
    Muriel Newman writes – The Coalition Government says it is moving with speed to deliver campaign promises and reverse the damage done by Labour. One of their key commitments is to “defend the principle that New Zealanders are equal before the law.” To achieve this, they have pledged they “will not advance ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    22 hours ago

  • An impermanent public service is a guarantee of very little else but failure
    Chris Trotter writes –  The absence of anything resembling a fightback from the public servants currently losing their jobs is interesting. State-sector workers’ collective fatalism in the face of Coalition cutbacks indicates a surprisingly broad acceptance of impermanence in the workplace. Fifty years ago, lay-offs in the thousands ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    24 hours ago

  • What happens after the war – Mariupol
    Mariupol, on the Azov Sea coast, was one of the first cities to suffer almost complete destruction after the start of the Ukraine War started in late February 2022. We remember the scenes of absolute destruction of the houses and city structures. The deaths of innocent civilians – many of ...
    Open ParachuteBy Ken
    1 day ago

  • Babies and benefits – no good news
    Lindsay Mitchell writes – Ten years ago, I wrote the following in a Listener column: Every year around one in five new-born babies will be reliant on their caregivers benefit by Christmas. This pattern has persisted from at least 1993. For Maori the number jumps to over one in three.  ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago

  • Should the RBNZ be looking through climate inflation?
    Climate change is expected to generate more and more extreme events, delivering a sort of structural shock to inflation that central banks will have to react to as if they were short-term cyclical issues. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāMy pick of the six newsey things to know from Aotearoa’s ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours, as of 9:16 am on Thursday, April 18 are:Housing: Tauranga residents living in boats, vans RNZ Checkpoint Louise TernouthHousing: Waikato councillor says wastewater plant issues could hold up Sleepyhead building a massive company town Waikato Times Stephen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago

  • Gordon Campbell on the public sector carnage, and misogyny as terrorism
    It’s a simple deal. We pay taxes in order to finance the social services we want and need. The carnage now occurring across the public sector though, is breaking that contract. Over 3,000 jobs have been lost so far. Many are in crucial areas like Education where the impact of ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    1 day ago

  • Meeting the Master Baiters
    Hi,A friend had their 40th over the weekend and decided to theme it after Curb Your Enthusiasm fashion icon Susie Greene. Captured in my tiny kitchen before I left the house, I ending up evoking a mix of old lesbian and Hillary Clinton — both unintentional.Me vs Hillary ClintonIf you’re ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    1 day ago

  • How extreme was the Earth's temperature in 2023
    This is a re-post from Andrew Dessler at the Climate Brink blog In 2023, the Earth reached temperature levels unprecedented in modern times. Given that, it’s reasonable to ask: What’s going on? There’s been lots of discussions by scientists about whether this is just the normal progression of global warming or if something ...
    Skeptical Science
    1 day ago

  • Backbone, revisited
    The schools are on holiday and the sun is shining in the seaside village and all day long I have been seeing bunches of bikes; Mums, Dads, teens and toddlers chattering, laughing, happy, having a bloody great time together. Cheers, AT, for the bits of lane you’ve added lately around the ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    2 days ago

  • Ministers are not above the law
    Today in our National-led authoritarian nightmare: Shane Jones thinks Ministers should be above the law: New Zealand First MP Shane Jones is accusing the Waitangi Tribunal of over-stepping its mandate by subpoenaing a minister for its urgent hearing on the Oranga Tamariki claim. The tribunal is looking into the ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    2 days ago

  • What’s the outfit you can hear going down the gurgler? Probably it’s David Parker’s Oceans Sec...
    Buzz from the Beehive Point  of Order first heard of the Oceans Secretariat in June 2021, when David Parker (remember him?) announced a multi-agency approach to protecting New Zealand’s marine ecosystems and fisheries. Parker (holding the Environment, and Oceans and Fisheries portfolios) broke the news at the annual Forest & ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    2 days ago

  • Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Bryce Edwards writes  – Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • Matt Doocey doubles down on trans “healthcare”
    Citizen Science writes –  Last week saw two significant developments in the debate over the treatment of trans-identifying children and young people – the release in Britain of the final report of Dr Hilary Cass’s review into gender healthcare, and here in New Zealand, the news that the ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    2 days ago

  • A TikTok Prime Minister.
    One night while sleeping in my bed I had a beautiful dreamThat all the people of the world got together on the same wavelengthAnd began helping one anotherNow in this dream, universal love was the theme of the dayPeace and understanding and it happened this wayAfter such an eventful day ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago

  • Texas Lessons
    This is a guest post by Oscar Simms who is a housing activist, volunteer for the Coalition for More Homes, and was the Labour Party candidate for Auckland Central at the last election. ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's pick 'n' mix of the news links at 6:06 am
    The top six news links I’ve seen elsewhere in the last 24 hours as of 6:06 am on Wednesday, April 17 are:Must read: Secrecy shrouds which projects might be fast-tracked RNZ Farah HancockScoop: Revealed: Luxon has seven staffers working on social media content - partly paid for by taxpayer Newshub ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago

  • Fighting poverty on the holiday highway
    Turning what Labour called the “holiday highway” into a four-lane expressway from Auckland to Whangarei could bring at least an economic benefit of nearly two billion a year for Northland each year. And it could help bring an end to poverty in one of New Zealand’s most deprived regions. The ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago

  • Bernard's six-stack of substacks at 6:26 pm
    Tonight’s six-stack includes: launching his substack with a bunch of his previous documentaries, including this 1992 interview with Dame Whina Cooper. and here crew give climate activists plenty to do, including this call to submit against the Fast Track Approvals bill. writes brilliantly here on his substack ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • At a glance – Is the science settled?
    On February 14, 2023 we announced our Rebuttal Update Project. This included an ask for feedback about the added "At a glance" section in the updated basic rebuttal versions. This weekly blog post series highlights this new section of one of the updated basic rebuttal versions and serves as a ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • Apposite Quotations.
    How Long Is Long Enough? Gaza under Israeli bombardment, July 2014. This posting is exclusive to Bowalley Road. ...
    Bowalley Road
    3 days ago

  • What’s a life worth now?
    You're in the mall when you hear it: some kind of popping sound in the distance, kids with fireworks, maybe. But then a moment of eerie stillness is followed by more of the fireworks sound and there’s also screaming and shrieking and now here come people running for their lives.Does ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago

  • Howling at the Moon
    Karl du Fresne writes –  There’s a crisis in the news media and the media are blaming it on everyone except themselves. Culpability is being deflected elsewhere – mainly to the hapless Minister of Communications, Melissa Lee, and the big social media platforms that are accused of hoovering ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Newshub is Dead.
    I don’t normally send out two newsletters in a day but I figured I’d say something about… the news. If two newsletters is a bit much then maybe just skip one, I don’t want to overload people. Alternatively if you’d be interested in sometimes receiving multiple, smaller updates from me, ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • Seymour is chuffed about cutting early-learning red tape – but we hear, too, that Jones has loose...
    Buzz from the Beehive David Seymour and Winston Peters today signalled that at least two ministers of the Crown might be in Wellington today. Seymour (as Associate Minister of Education) announced the removal of more red tape, this time to make it easier for new early learning services to be ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago

  • Bryce Edwards: Will politicians let democracy die in the darkness?
    Politicians across the political spectrum are implicated in the New Zealand media’s failing health. Either through neglect or incompetent interventions, successive governments have failed to regulate, foster, and allow a healthy Fourth Estate that can adequately hold politicians and the powerful to account. Our political system is suffering from the ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    3 days ago

  • Was Hawkesby entirely wrong?
    David Farrar  writes –  The Broadcasting Standards Authority ruled: Comments by radio host Kate Hawkesby suggesting Māori and Pacific patients were being prioritised for surgery due to their ethnicity were misleading and discriminatory, the Broadcasting Standards Authority has found. It is a fact such patients are prioritised. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • PRC shadow looms as the Solomons head for election
    PRC and its proxies in Solomons have been preparing for these elections for a long time. A lot of money, effort and intelligence have gone into ensuring an outcome that won’t compromise Beijing’s plans. Cleo Paskall writes – On April 17th the Solomon Islands, a country of ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago

  • Climate Change: Criminal ecocide
    We are in the middle of a climate crisis. Last year was (again) the hottest year on record. NOAA has just announced another global coral bleaching event. Floods are threatening UK food security. So naturally, Shane Jones wants to make it easier to mine coal: Resources Minister Shane Jones ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    3 days ago

  • Is saving one minute of a politician's time worth nearly $1 billion?
    Is speeding up the trip to and from Wellington airport by 12 minutes worth spending up more than $10 billion? Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me in the last day to 8:26 am today are:The Lead: Transport Minister Simeon Brown announced ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 days ago

  • Long Tunnel or Long Con?
    Yesterday it was revealed that Transport Minister had asked Waka Kotahi to look at the options for a long tunnel through Wellington. State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the ...
    Greater AucklandBy Matt L
    3 days ago

  • Smoke And Mirrors.
    You're a fraud, and you know itBut it's too good to throw it all awayAnyone would do the sameYou've got 'em goingAnd you're careful not to show itSometimes you even fool yourself a bitIt's like magicBut it's always been a smoke and mirrors gameAnyone would do the sameForty six billion ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    3 days ago

  • What is Mexico doing about climate change?
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections The June general election in Mexico could mark a turning point in ensuring that the country’s climate policies better reflect the desire of its citizens to address the climate crisis, with both leading presidential candidates expressing support for renewable energy. Mexico is the ...
    Skeptical Science
    3 days ago

  • State of humanity, 2024
    2024, it feels, keeps presenting us with ever more challenges, ever more dismay.Do you give up yet? It seems to ask.No? How about this? Or this?How about this?When I say 2024 I really mean the state of humanity in 2024.Saturday night, we watched Civil War because that is one terrifying cliff we've ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 days ago

  • Govt’s Wellington tunnel vision aims to ease the way to the airport (but zealous promoters of cycl...
    Buzz from the Beehive A pet project and governmental tunnel vision jump out from the latest batch of ministerial announcements. The government is keen to assure us of its concern for the wellbeing of our pets. It will be introducing pet bonds in a change to the Residential Tenancies Act ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago

  • The case for cultural connectedness
    A recent report generated from a Growing Up in New Zealand (GUiNZ) survey of 1,224 rangatahi Māori aged 11-12 found: Cultural connectedness was associated with fewer depression symptoms, anxiety symptoms and better quality of life. That sounds cut and dry. But further into the report the following appears: Cultural connectedness is ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Useful context on public sector job cuts
    David Farrar writes –    The Herald reports: From the gory details of job-cuts news, you’d think the public service was being eviscerated.   While the media’s view of the cuts is incomplete, it’s also true that departments have been leaking the particulars faster than a Wellington ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago

  • Gordon Campbell On When Racism Comes Disguised As Anti-racism
    Remember the good old days, back when New Zealand had a PM who could think and speak calmly and intelligently in whole sentences without blustering? Even while Iran’s drones and missiles were still being launched, Helen Clark was live on TVNZ expertly summing up the latest crisis in the Middle ...
    Gordon CampbellBy lyndon
    4 days ago

  • Govt ignored economic analysis of smokefree reversal
    Costello did not pass on analysis of the benefits of the smokefree reforms to Cabinet, emphasising instead the extra tax revenues of repealing them. Photo: Hagen Hopkins, Getty Images TL;DR: The six news items that stood out to me at 7:26 am today are:The Lead: Casey Costello never passed on ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago

  • True Blue.
    True loveYou're the one I'm dreaming ofYour heart fits me like a gloveAnd I'm gonna be true blueBaby, I love youI’ve written about the job cuts in our news media last week. The impact on individuals, and the loss to Aotearoa of voices covering our news from different angles.That by ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    4 days ago

  • Who is running New Zealand’s foreign policy?
    While commentators, including former Prime Minister Helen Clark, are noting a subtle shift in New Zealand’s foreign policy, which now places more emphasis on the United States, many have missed a key element of the shift. What National said before the election is not what the government is doing now. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    4 days ago

  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #15
    A listing of 31 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, April 7, 2024 thru Sat, April 13, 2024. Story of the week Our story of the week is about adults in the room setting terms and conditions of ...
    Skeptical Science
    5 days ago

  • Feline Friends and Fragile Fauna The Complexities of Cats in New Zealand’s Conservation Efforts

    Cats, with their independent spirit and beguiling purrs, have captured the hearts of humans for millennia. In New Zealand, felines are no exception, boasting the highest national cat ownership rate globally [definition cat nz cat foundation]. An estimated 1.134 million pet cats grace Kiwi households, compared to 683,000 dogs ...

    Gareth’s WorldBy admin
    5 days ago

  • Or is that just they want us to think?
    Nice guy, that Peter Williams. Amiable, a calm air of no-nonsense capability, a winning smile. Everything you look for in a TV presenter and newsreader.I used to see him sometimes when I went to TVNZ to be a talking head or a panellist and we would yarn. Nice guy, that ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    5 days ago

  • Fact Brief – Did global warming stop in 1998?
    Skeptical Science is partnering with Gigafact to produce fact briefs — bite-sized fact checks of trending claims. This fact brief was written by Sue Bin Park in collaboration with members from our Skeptical Science team. You can submit claims you think need checking via the tipline. Did global warming stop in ...
    Skeptical Science
    6 days ago

  • Arguing over a moot point.
    I have been following recent debates in the corporate and social media about whether it is a good idea for NZ to join what is known as “AUKUS Pillar Two.” AUKUS is the Australian-UK-US nuclear submarine building agreement in which … Continue reading → ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    6 days ago

  • No Longer Trusted: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    Turning Point: “What has turned me away from the mainstream news media is the very strong message that its been sending out for the last few years.” “And what message might that be?” “That the people who own it, the people who run it, and the people who provide its content, really don’t ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Mortgage rates at 10% anyone?
    No – nothing about that in PM Luxon’s nine-point plan to improve the lives of New Zealanders. But beyond our shores Jamie Dimon, the long-serving head of global bank J.P. Morgan Chase, reckons that the chances of a goldilocks soft landing for the economy are “a lot lower” than the ...
    Point of OrderBy xtrdnry
    6 days ago

  • Sad tales from the left
    Michael Bassett writes –  Have you noticed the odd way in which the media are handling the government’s crackdown on surplus employees in the Public Service? Very few reporters mention the crazy way in which State Service numbers rocketed ahead by more than 16,000 during Labour’s six years, ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago

  • In Whose Best Interests?
    On The Spot: The question Q+A host, Jack Tame, put to the Workplace & Safety Minister, Act’s Brooke van Velden, was disarmingly simple: “Are income tax cuts right now in the best interests of lowering inflation?”JACK TAME has tested another MP on his Sunday morning current affairs show, Q+A. Minister for Workplace ...
    Bowalley Road
    6 days ago

  • Don’t Question, Don’t Complain.
    It has to start somewhereIt has to start sometimeWhat better place than here?What better time than now?So it turns out that I owe you all an apology.It seems that all of the terrible things this government is doing, impacting the lives of many, aren’t necessarily ‘bad’ per se. Those things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    6 days ago

  • Minister to Europe for OECD meeting, Anzac Day
    Science, Innovation and Technology and Defence Minister Judith Collins will next week attend the OECD Science and Technology Ministerial conference in Paris and Anzac Day commemorations in Belgium. “Science, innovation and technology have a major role to play in rebuilding our economy and achieving better health, environmental and social outcomes ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 hour ago

  • Comprehensive Partnership the goal for NZ and the Philippines
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with the President of the Philippines, Ferdinand Marcos Jr.  The Prime Minister was accompanied by MP Paulo Garcia, the first Filipino to be elected to a legislature outside the Philippines. During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon and President Marcos Jr discussed opportunities to ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    12 hours ago

  • Government commits $20m to Westport flood protection
    The Government has announced that $20 million in funding will be made available to Westport to fund much needed flood protection around the town. This measure will significantly improve the resilience of the community, says Local Government Minister Simeon Brown. “The Westport community has already been allocated almost $3 million ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    18 hours ago

  • Taupō takes pole position
    The Government is proud to support the first ever Repco Supercars Championship event in Taupō as up to 70,000 motorsport fans attend the Taupō International Motorsport Park this weekend, says Economic Development Minister Melissa Lee. “Anticipation for the ITM Taupō Super400 is huge, with tickets and accommodation selling out weeks ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    19 hours ago

  • Cost of living support for low-income homeowners
    Local Government Minister Simeon Brown has announced an increase to the Rates Rebate Scheme, putting money back into the pockets of low-income homeowners.  “The coalition Government is committed to bringing down the cost of living for New Zealanders. That includes targeted support for those Kiwis who are doing things tough, such ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    21 hours ago

  • Government backing mussel spat project
    The Coalition Government is investing in a project to boost survival rates of New Zealand mussels and grow the industry, Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones has announced. “This project seeks to increase the resilience of our mussels and significantly boost the sector’s productivity,” Mr Jones says. “The project - ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    22 hours ago

  • Government focused on getting people into work
    Benefit figures released today underscore the importance of the Government’s plan to rebuild the economy and have 50,000 fewer people on Jobseeker Support, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “Benefit numbers are still significantly higher than when National was last in government, when there was about 70,000 fewer ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Clean energy key driver to reducing emissions
    The Government’s commitment to doubling New Zealand’s renewable energy capacity is backed by new data showing that clean energy has helped the country reach its lowest annual gross emissions since 1999, Climate Change Minister Simon Watts says. New Zealand’s latest Greenhouse Gas Inventory (1990-2022) published today, shows gross emissions fell ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Earthquake-prone buildings review brought forward
    The Government is bringing the earthquake-prone building review forward, with work to start immediately, and extending the deadline for remediations by four years, Building and Construction Minister Chris Penk says. “Our Government is focused on rebuilding the economy. A key part of our plan is to cut red tape that ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago

  • Thailand and NZ to agree to Strategic Partnership
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and his Thai counterpart, Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, have today agreed that New Zealand and the Kingdom of Thailand will upgrade the bilateral relationship to a Strategic Partnership by 2026. “New Zealand and Thailand have a lot to offer each other. We have a strong mutual desire to build ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Government consults on extending coastal permits for ports
    RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop and Transport Minister Simeon Brown have today announced the Coalition Government’s intention to extend port coastal permits for a further 20 years, providing port operators with certainty to continue their operations. “The introduction of the Resource Management Act in 1991 required ports to obtain coastal ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Inflation coming down, but more work to do
    Today’s announcement that inflation is down to 4 per cent is encouraging news for Kiwis, but there is more work to be done - underlining the importance of the Government’s plan to get the economy back on track, acting Finance Minister Chris Bishop says. “Inflation is now at 4 per ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • School attendance restored as a priority in health advice
    Refreshed health guidance released today will help parents and schools make informed decisions about whether their child needs to be in school, addressing one of the key issues affecting school attendance, says Associate Education Minister David Seymour. In recent years, consistently across all school terms, short-term illness or medical reasons ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Unnecessary bureaucracy cut in oceans sector
    Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones is streamlining high-level oceans management while maintaining a focus on supporting the sector’s role in the export-led recovery of the economy. “I am working to realise the untapped potential of our fishing and aquaculture sector. To achieve that we need to be smarter with ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    2 days ago

  • Patterson promoting NZ’s wool sector at International Congress
    Associate Agriculture Minister Mark Patterson is speaking at the International Wool Textile Organisation Congress in Adelaide, promoting New Zealand wool, and outlining the coalition Government’s support for the revitalisation the sector.    "New Zealand’s wool exports reached $400 million in the year to 30 June 2023, and the coalition Government ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Removing red tape to help early learners thrive
    The Government is making legislative changes to make it easier for new early learning services to be established, and for existing services to operate, Associate Education Minister David Seymour says. The changes involve repealing the network approval provisions that apply when someone wants to establish a new early learning service, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • RMA changes to cut coal mining consent red tape
    Changes to the Resource Management Act will align consenting for coal mining to other forms of mining to reduce barriers that are holding back economic development, Resources Minister Shane Jones says. “The inconsistent treatment of coal mining compared with other extractive activities is burdensome red tape that fails to acknowledge ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • McClay reaffirms strong NZ-China trade relationship
    Trade, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Todd McClay has concluded productive discussions with ministerial counterparts in Beijing today, in support of the New Zealand-China trade and economic relationship. “My meeting with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao reaffirmed the complementary nature of the bilateral trade relationship, with our Free Trade Agreement at its ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 days ago

  • Prime Minister Luxon acknowledges legacy of Singapore Prime Minister Lee
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon today paid tribute to Singapore’s outgoing Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.   Meeting in Singapore today immediately before Prime Minister Lee announced he was stepping down, Prime Minister Luxon warmly acknowledged his counterpart’s almost twenty years as leader, and the enduring legacy he has left for Singapore and South East ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • PMs Luxon and Lee deepen Singapore-NZ ties
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon held a bilateral meeting today with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. While in Singapore as part of his visit to South East Asia this week, Prime Minister Luxon also met with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and will meet with Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong.  During today’s meeting, Prime Minister Luxon ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Antarctica New Zealand Board appointments
    Foreign Minister Winston Peters has made further appointments to the Board of Antarctica New Zealand as part of a continued effort to ensure the Scott Base Redevelopment project is delivered in a cost-effective and efficient manner.  The Minister has appointed Neville Harris as a new member of the Board. Mr ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Finance Minister travels to Washington DC
    Finance Minister Nicola Willis will travel to the United States on Tuesday to attend a meeting of the Five Finance Ministers group, with counterparts from Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom.  “I am looking forward to meeting with our Five Finance partners on how we can work ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Pet bonds a win/win for renters and landlords
    The coalition Government has today announced purrfect and pawsitive changes to the Residential Tenancies Act to give tenants with pets greater choice when looking for a rental property, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Pets are important members of many Kiwi families. It’s estimated that around 64 per cent of New ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Long Tunnel for SH1 Wellington being considered
    State Highway 1 (SH1) through Wellington City is heavily congested at peak times and while planning continues on the duplicate Mt Victoria Tunnel and Basin Reserve project, the Government has also asked NZ Transport Agency (NZTA) to consider and provide advice on a Long Tunnel option, Transport Minister Simeon Brown ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • New Zealand condemns Iranian strikes
    Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Foreign Minister Winston Peters have condemned Iran’s shocking and illegal strikes against Israel.    “These attacks are a major challenge to peace and stability in a region already under enormous pressure," Mr Luxon says.    "We are deeply concerned that miscalculation on any side could ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    4 days ago

  • Huge interest in Government’s infrastructure plans
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