George Galloway invites interview by Sean Plunket of TV3's The Nation

Roger Fowler of Kia Ora Gaza was interviewed by Sean Plunket during his TV3 show The Nation on 15 August 2010.

During this show, Mr Plunket made a number of references to George Galloway and Viva Palestina, the UK-based charity he founded.

In a statement sent to Kia Ora Gaza, Mr Galloway disputes what was said on Mr Plunket's show.

Among the responses made by Mr Galloway are these:

• "I'm stunned that such a collection of inaccuracies and downright lies, larded by overt bias, can be broadcast in New Zealand."

• "I'm not virulently anti-American [as claimed by Mr Plunket]… It's their foreign policy I 'virulently' oppose."

• Mr Plunket's allegation that Viva Palestina is "all about the fall of the capitalist system" is labelled by Mr Galloway as "piffle, poppycock and utterly preposterous".

• In response to Mr Plunket's inference that the last Viva Palestina land convoy was turned away by Egypt, Mr Galloway states: "It successfully crossed into Gaza through Rafah after first a stand-off with Egyptian security forces and then an attack by them. The aid and vehicles were successfully delivered. Only coming out of Gaza was I seized and then deported."

• "Instead of defaming me behind my back Plunket could have put these wild allegations to my face. I invite him to do that now in a TV interview if he has the stomach for it."

Kia Ora Gaza has already sent a copy of this media release to Mr Plunket, along with a covering note.

"I have told the TV3 interviewer that I hope he takes up Mr Galloway's offer to put the facts straight," said Grant Morgan, co-organiser of Kia Ora Gaza.

Mr Plunket has been provided with Mr Galloway's contact email.

You can view Sean Plunket's interview with Roger Fowler on TV3's The Nation here.


The full text of Mr Galloway's statement about Mr Plunket's TV show is appended below.

APPENDIX:
Full text of Mr Galloway's statement in response to Sean Plunket's TV3 show The Nation on 15 August 2010:

I'm stunned that such a collection of inaccuracies and downright lies, larded by overt bias, can be broadcast in New Zealand. Isn't there a Kiwi equivalent of Ofcom?

The quote about dictators is an invention. Wherever it has been dragged from, these are not my words.

I'm not virulently anti-American. Indeed completely the opposite. I'm the great grandson of probably the only woman to emigrate from the US to Dundee in the 19th Century. I'm a massive US music fan - I have everything by Bob Dylan - I visit the country often and have loads of American friends. It's their foreign policy I 'virulently' oppose.

Viva Palestina 'is all about the fall of the capitalist system'!? Please. This is piffle, poppycock and utterly preposterous. Does this guy even do any research? These convoys are about breaking the illegal siege of Gaza and delivering aid which is banned by Israel and which human rights' organisations throughout the world have condemned. David Cameron called it a prison camp. At least in prison you get three square meals a day.

Some no-doubt unpalatable facts, Sean Plunket. Hamas is the elected government of Palestine - the only elected government in the Arab Middle East. There is no international maritime blockade on Gaza, the blockade is solely and illegally imposed by Israel. Check with the UN on that. Israel banned - and continues to ban - most building materials as well as a wealth of everyday items like medical equipment, schoolbooks and pencils. The ban was only 'relaxed' after Israeli commandos illegally stormed the Mavi Marmara in an act of piracy in international waters and shot dead nine unarmed Turks. The storm of international condemnation and opprobrium forced Israel into this partial 'relaxation'.

It's untrue to say that our convoy - Viva Palestina 3 - was turned away by Egypt. It successfully crossed into Gaza through Rafah after first a stand-off with Egyptian security forces and then an attack by them. The aid and vehicles were successfully delivered. Only coming out of Gaza was I seized and then deported. As I said at the time, President Hosni Mubarak is a ludicrous, tin-pot dictator and 'I've been thrown out of better joints than this'.

Viva Palestina 5 will set out on September 18 and we will then test whether Israel will allow through the vital supplies still denied to the beleaguered people of Gaza.

Instead of defaming me behind my back Plunket could have put these wild allegations to my face. I invite him to do that now in a TV interview if he has the stomach for it.

Best,

George Galloway

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