Withdraw Your Pledges, Says New Zealand Jewish Council

Withdraw Your Pledges, Says New Zealand Jewish Council

The New Zealand Jewish community is concerned that sitting MPs and Parliamentary candidates have pledged to require the New Zealand Superannuation Fund to divest from Israeli and other companies.

“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. The Fund follows strict governance and investment principles (the Santiago Principles) to maintain operational independence without political interference, ” said David Zwartz on behalf of the New Zealand Jewish Council.

The Guardians of the Super Fund operate at ‘double-arm’s-length’ from the Crown in terms of investment decisions, David Zwartz said. It is especially shocking and totally improper that Mr Peter Dunne as Minister of the Crown is pledging to influence Super Fund investment decisions.

“As New Zealand Jews we are also concerned that those making pledges are lending their names to the delegitimisation of Israel, with the ultimate aim of destroying the re-established historic homeland of the Jewish people,” Zwartz also explained.

The BDS movement, instigator of the pledges, is openly committed to policies and activities which will destroy the democratic Jewish State of Israel.

“It may be that the MPs and candidates are not fully aware of what lies behind their pledges.

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

ENDS

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