OIA 29359 Information for release REDACTED.pdf

1982
Act
Information
Official
the
under
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UNCLASSIFIED
Meeting Brief: Jewish Council Meeting
8:30am-9:00am, 9 May 2024
Attendees
•
Juliet Moses, President
•  s9(2)(a)
Expert Delegate to the International Holocaust Remembrance
Alliance (IHRA), and Council Member
Key objectives
•
Understand views of the Jewish community in New Zealand and update the Council
on the Government’s response to the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Discussion points
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
under the Official Information Act 1982
•  s6(a), s9(2)(g)(i)
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•  s9(2)(g)(i)
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Terrorist designations
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s6(a), s9(2)(g)(i)
o  s6(a), s9(2)(g)(i)
UNRWA
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)under the Official Information Act 1982
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•  s9(2)(g)(i)
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•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
under the Official Information Act 1982
Background
1. The Jewish Council has met regularly with a group of government agencies since the
7 October terrorist attacks, including DPMC, MFAT, NZ Police, NZ SIS, Ministry of Ethnic
Communities, and Department of Internal Affairs. The most recent meeting was on 12
April. The Council has raised several concerns in these meetings, including:
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•  s9(2)(ba)(i)
•  s9(2)(ba)(i)
1 s9(2)(g)(i)
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•  s9(2)(ba)(i)
•  s9(2)(ba)(i)
2. In response, agencies have provided the Council with:
•
Clarification on the ways agencies work with the community and respond to
concerns raised by the community (e.g. NZ Police and NZ SIS investigation
processes);
•
Information on available government resources to support education and
prevention activities in the classroom and the community; and
•
Commitments to follow up on concerns raised by the community and to meet
with the community at its request in the future.
Terrorist Designations
3.  s6(a)
IHRA
4. The IHRA was founded by Sweden in 1998. There are 35  Member  countries  and 8
Observer countries. One of the IHRA’s most publicised outputs is its non-legally binding
“working definition” of antisemitism. A majority of Observers and Members of the IHRA
have adopted the working definition:
•
“Antisemitism is a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as
hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are
under the Official Information Act 1982
directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward
Jewish community institutions and religious facilities.”
5. A range of countries have not formally adopted the working definition despite being
Members or Observers of the IHRA. s9(2)(g)(i)
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6.  s6(a)
  The  UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief clarified  that
“criticism of the Government of Israel is not per se antisemitic, as stated in the [IHRA]
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Working Definition, unless it is accompanied by manifestations of hatred towards Jews
in general, or expressions that build on traditional antisemitic stereotypes.”
7. s6(a)
s9(2)(g)(i)
s6(a)
s9(2)(g)(i)
s6(a)
8. s6(a)
Middle East and Africa Division
May 2024
under the Official Information Act 1982
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Meeting Brief: Federation of Islamic Associations of New
Zealand (FIANZ)
10:30am-11:00am, 9 May 2024
Attendees
•
Abdur Razzaq Khan, Chair of FIANZ and Co-Chair of the Christchurch Call Advisory
Network
•  s9(2)(a)  Youth Director
•  s9(2)(a)  Co-Chair of Advocacy
Key objectives
•
Understand  views of the Muslim  community in New Zealand and convey the
Government’s sympathies for innocent lives lost in the Israel-Hamas conflict.
•
Update FIANZ on the Government’s response to the conflict.
Issues to be raised by FIANZ
OIC - Islamic Chamber of Commerce
•
Background only: The Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, established
in 1976, is an affiliated institution of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC),
and is the sole representative for the private sector of all 57 Member Islamic
Countries. Of the 67 members, FIANZ is so far the sole accredited organisation from
a western country. Its application was approved in December 2023.
s6(b)(ii)
under the Official Information Act 1982
FIANZ humanitarian aid for Gaza
[FIANZ has been working with partners to deliver aid to Gaza (cash, food and in-kind
items), including with a Malaysian NGO that is supported by the Malaysian Government.]
•
Share with FIANZ that advocating for improved humanitarian access is a priority for
New Zealand.
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•
New Zealand’s support totals NZ$17 million with the most recent contribution of
NZ$2 million to the UN Mechanism for Gaza supporting efforts to improve aid flows.
•
Note that New Zealand’s focus is providing financial contributions to experienced
international humanitarian agencies that can deliver at the scale required (and
procure effectively and efficiently). This includes the World Food Programme and
UN Children’s Fund.
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Regional Islamic Da’wah Council of South East Asia & the Pacific (RISEAP)
•
Background only:  RISEAP is an organisation based in Kuala Lumpur working to
promote the welfare of minority Muslim communities in the South East Asia region.
It has a relationship with Muslim communities in New Zealand via FIANZ. MFAT has
not worked with RISEAP previously, s9(2)(g)(i)
.
Christchurch Call Advisory Group
•
[Abdur Razzaq Khan is a co-Chair of the Christchurch Call Advisory Network (CCAN)
s9(2)(ba)(i)
]
•
Note that the CCAN plays an important role providing independent civil society
expert advice on the Christchurch Call work programme. MFAT funding was
provided on a ‘one-off’ basis to support the establishment of a coordinator role for
the Network. Provision of government funding on an ongoing basis would undermine
the  Network’s independence. Note positively that funding from the French
government has been made available to support the continuation of the CCAN
coordinator role until a more sustainable option can be identified.
•
[If raised – Christchurch Call Secretariat] Note that following agreement by leaders
at the Christchurch Call Summit in Paris in November, the work to transition the
Call Secretariat to a new non-government structure is now well under way. We
appreciate the important contribution made to that process by the (FIANZ) CCAN
co-Chair and representative of the community impacted by the Christchurch
terrorist attack.
Israel/Hamas conflict - discussion points
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)under the Official Information Act 1982
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
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•  s9(2)(g)(i)
United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)
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•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s6(a), s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
If raised – terrorist designations and travel bans
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
If raised – Palestinian statehood recognition
•  s6(a), s9(2)(g)(i)
under the Official Information Act 1982
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
•  s9(2)(g)(i)
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•  s9(2)(g)(i)
Background
Christchurch Call Advisory Group
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1. MFAT’s Global Security Fund provided a one-off lump-sum payment of NZ$66,700 to
fund the establishment of an admin/coordinator position to support the Christchurch
Call Advisory Network (CCAN) in 2020/21. CCAN is an independent body which
coordinates civil society input into the Christchurch Call work programme. The term
for MFAT’s funding is set to conclude on 30 June 2024. The French Government has
also provided a lump-sum payment of NZ$80,026, which may be drawn on by CCAN
to continue the role for a period beyond 30 June 2024.
2. MFAT funding was provided to FIANZ on a one-off basis to enable the establishment
of a coordinator role and provide a ‘bridging resource’ to the network while it sought
a sustainable funding source from other stakeholders. It is important that CCAN
preserve a degree of independence from government if they are to continue to provide
a credible civil society voice in the Call community. Provision of open-ended
government support would undermine that independence.
3. The Christchurch Call Secretariat is currently in a transitionary phase, in line with a
decision by leaders at the Call Summit in November to explore options and implement
a more sustainable structure. Following Cabinet agreement in March, officials are now
working to transition the Secretariat to a non-government entity by 1 July. As CCAN
co-Chair, Khan has been participating in a Call Community reference group to provide
guidance on the legal structure and design of the new structure.
Hamas terrorist designation
4. Terrorist designations are made under the Terrorism Suppression Act 2002. The Act
sets out stringent criteria that must be met for an entity to be designated in New
Zealand. Those criteria include reasonable grounds to believe that an entity has
knowingly carried out, or has knowingly participated in the carrying out of, one or
more terrorist acts.
5. Designation decisions are taken by the Prime Minister and are informed by a range of
advice from officials. The Terrorist Designations Working Group (TDWG) creates a
statement of case outlining whether there is sufficient evidence to meet the statutory
test for designation under the Act. This is presented to the National Security Board to
under the Official Information Act 1982
consider, and then provide a recommendation to the Prime Minister on whether or not
to designate. The Prime Minister must then consult with the Attorney-General about
the decision before designating an entity for the first time (as the case of Hamas in its
entirety).
6. Designation freezes any assets of terrorist entities in New Zealand. It also makes it a
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criminal offence to carry out property or financial transactions with them, or provide
material support. The decision to designate Hamas a terrorist entity does not affect
New Zealanders’ ability to support the humanitarian crisis in Gaza or elsewhere.
7. The designation of Hamas as an organisation does not extend to the population or all
individuals governed by an organisation, even if they are supporters of its aims and
objectives. Membership of an organisation alone is not an offence under the Act, which
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is focused on an individual’s actions e.g. if they enhance the ability of a designated
entity to carry out a terrorist act.
s6(b)(ii)
Middle East and Africa Division
May 2024
under the Official Information Act 1982
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