New Zealand’s Jewish Council Slams Call for Fund to Participate in BDS

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Following a call by many New Zealand politicians to divest funding from Israel that is stated to go towards the Superannuation fund, the Jewish Council calling the decision shocking.

The fund, known as the Cullen fund, was created in 2001 by the government to help fund a large aging population. Between 2003 and 2009, the Government contributed $14.88 billion to the Fund.

Peter Dunne, Minister of the Crown — the guardians that take charge and manage the fund — and others have pledged and signed an agreement that requires the fund to divest from companies which profit from the occupied territories in the West Bank.

“As New Zealanders — some of us superannuitants — we deplore the attempted interference of legislators and potential legislators in the investment criteria for the Super Fund,” David Zwartz said on behalf of the Jewish Council. “The Fund follows strict governance and investment principles to maintain operational independence without political interference.”

The statement from the Jewish Council added that they’re concerned “that those making pledges are lending their names to the delegitimization of Israel, with the ultimate aim of destroying the re-established historic homeland of the Jewish people.”

“In any case, we ask them to withdraw their signatures and observe the strict Super Fund principles of no political interference,” the statement concluded.

New Zealand’s Act party candidate Sean Fitzpatrick, who originally also signed the pledge to participate in the BDS, says he no longer wants to be associated with the movement and was “flat out lied to.”

“I am greatly distressed to have my name associated with a campaign that is diametrically opposite to my views on the topic,” he says.

“I fully acknowledge I ought to have done due diligence on the organization and their intentions before signing their pledge card. That I did not is squarely my fault for which I can only sincerely apologize.”

New Zealand’s Jewish Council Slams Call for Fund to Participate in BDS

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