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Israeli pressure seen in New Zealand diplomacy with Palestinian Authority

Xinhua, February 20, 2015 Adjust font size:

The New Zealand government was accused of appeasing Israel Friday after a diplomatic reshuffle saw it appoint a senior ambassador as representative to the Palestinian Authority.

Foreign Minister Murray McCully announced that New Zealand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, former Deputy Prime Minister Jim McLay, would be leaving the post in May and replaced by a career diplomat.

McLay would be appointed New Zealand's Representative to the Palestinian Authority, based in Wellington where he would also serve as a special advisor to the McCully and as a special envoy of the prime minister.

McLay, who led New Zealand's successful campaign at the United Nations for a non-permanent seat on the Security Council in 2015 and 2016, would "utilize his network of contacts and special knowledge of UN matters" in his new posts, McCully said in a statement.

Critics said the appointment appeared to mollify Israel, which has refused to accept New Zealand"s ambassador to Turkey, who handled relations with Israel, because he would also deal with the Palestinian Authority.

The opposition Green Party said the government should "take the next step and recognize the state of Palestine" or explain why it had "bowed to Israel's demands."

"While this might seem like a positive step, some have expressed concern this was a result of pressure from the Israeli government," Green Party global affairs spokesperson Kennedy Graham said in a statement.

"Israel refused to accept our ambassador in Turkey, because he was also going to handle relations with Palestine, and suddenly, we have split the roles," he said.

"If New Zealand is to appoint a separate representative to Palestine, this should be our independent decision, not a result of external manipulation." Endite