19 Comments
User's avatar
Malcolm Robbins's avatar

"She said MFAT media advisors would only engage with “recognised news media outlets”.

Disgraceful. In other words MFAT will only engage with those who ask it the questions it isn't afraid to give answers to.

Expand full comment
Lynne Dempsey's avatar

Excellent YouTube Press Conference with Francesca Albanese in Bogotá - such clarity and courage exhibited by her gives us hope.

Expand full comment
KSJ's avatar

Such shameful behaviour from our “wealthy and sorted” self serving leaders. So, on the wrong side of history…. 😞

Expand full comment
Dave M's avatar
8dEdited

Brilliant comprehensive reporting and incisive analysis! Thank you so much Mick for doing the job that MSM should be doing. It's so obvious now how TVNZ & RNZ "news" programmes are padded out with time filler trivia and facile coverage/commentary on world events that will ultimately determine if democratic freedoms are soon to be a thing of the past or whether WW111 kicks off tomorrow when you're listening to yet another "expert" on Seven Sharp explaining the correct way to brush your teeth! 🥱

Expand full comment
J Nimmo's avatar

'MFAT media advisors would only engage with “recognised news media outlets”.'

Recognized by whom? The 'state' of 'israel'? IINZ? Bna'i Brith NZ? Some other foreign lobby group? MFAT couldn't be more open about their support for genocide.

Expand full comment
Rach Peacocke's avatar

Thank you Mick for covering this

Expand full comment
Pauline Arnold's avatar

You soon see which countries have the integrity to stand by what's right typical of our government not to do that too busy being an American puppet sickening.

Expand full comment
Arturo's avatar

"Meanwhile, EU foreign ministers, as well as Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Syrian counterpart, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, met in Brussels at the same time as the Bogota summit, to discuss Middle East co-operation, but also possible options for action against Israel."

This made me laugh. Lets discuss together with "Israel" and meanwhile we go on genociding.

Expand full comment
Stephen Walker's avatar

Thank you for this valuable report. That there is so little information available on the web about this summit speaks volumes about media control. I have one question about the countries represented in Bogotá. It is quite difficult to pin down a definitive list, but my research yesterday consistently turned up 32 names, which were confirmed by a Middle East Eye article (link below). Your report states that there were 35 countries represented in total, but I wonder if you have been able to confirm the attendance of Bangladesh, Belize and Senegal from multiple sources?

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/bogota-summit-palestine-begins-more-30-states-discuss-concrete-measures-against-israel

Expand full comment
Mick Hall's avatar

Thanks Stephen, there's been a lot of confusion around the numbers and I see some outlets have fudged the figure to stay safe. There a suggestion of late arrivals. The MEE article itself seems to fudge the issue too, saying other countries to join the Hague Group 'included'... In another paragraph it suggests Senegal was there. Happy to revise the named states as the situation is clarified.

Expand full comment
Geoff Fischer's avatar

Are Iran, Yemen and Lebanon not included?

Perhaps membership is unnecessary given they are actively engaged in hostilities with Israel and the US, and the Hague group may be more comfortable limiting its membership to non-belligerent states.

Being a belligerent on the Palestinian side of the conflict would be the only honorable reason for not belonging to the Hague group.

Expand full comment
Stephen Walker's avatar

Lebanon is listed, but not Iran or Yemen. None of these three countries maintain any ties to Israel, so in that sense they have already taken concrete measures. Diplomatically, the Sana’a government is quite limited in what it can do since it is not widely recognised internationally. Iran most likely occupied with other matters.

Expand full comment
James Wilkes's avatar

As an Aussie married to a Kiwi I am deeply embarrassed by both country’s cowardice. Instead of leaders, we have sycophants - Albanese and Luxon, two gutless wonders. Our ANZAC forefathers - including my grandfather - fought and died defending the promise of democracy, fairness, and a fair-go for all. They were completely against this sort of bullshit and they would be rolling in their graves. It’s time our ‘gutless’ leaders lived up to their sacrifice, which was their actual lives. FFS, do something, people are being exterminated. Oh, and integrity and staying true to our values tops diplomacy by a bazillion times. Go and lead, get on with it.

Expand full comment
Elrond Burrell's avatar

Cowards at MFAT.

Expand full comment
Colin Mansell's avatar

Good reporting, which means that I recognise you as a valid news media outlet. Please ask the Australian MFAT what it will take for them to recognise such recognition. I suspect that many of your readers will agree with me.

Expand full comment
Haslin's avatar

About time !

Expand full comment
Levi Y Keselman's avatar

Odd genocide where the supposed target increase in numbers over the period of the genocide.

Expand full comment