The pressure grows: Will NZ recognise Palestine this week?

2025-09-22

The clock is ticking for New Zealand to join a throng of other countries recognising the state of Palestine. Britain, Canada, and Australia have all formally recognised it, with the likes of Portugal, France and several others to follow at the United Nations General Assembly this week. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned their moves, saying a Palestinian state would be a "huge reward to terrorism" and "will not happen". So, what’s holding up our government? And how might the war i...

The clock is ticking for New Zealand to join a throng of other countries recognising the state of Palestine.

Britain, Canada, and Australia have all formally recognised it, with the likes of Portugal, France and several others to follow at the United Nations General Assembly this week.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned their moves, saying a Palestinian state would be a "huge reward to terrorism" and "will not happen".

So, what’s holding up our government? And how might the war in Gaza unfold?

Today on The Front Page, University of Waikato international law professor Alexander Gillespie is with us to explain what recognition means and how it’s not as black and white as we might think.

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You can read more about this and other stories in the New Zealand Herald, online at nzherald.co.nz, or tune in to news bulletins across the NZME network.

Host: Chelsea Daniels
Editor/Producer: Richard Martin
Producer: Jane Yee

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