Source: Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa
8 September 2026
A spate of tyre slashing and other attacks by Israeli supporters is concerning PSNA.
The most recent pro-Israel vandalism is in Christchurch and Wellington alongside a violent attack on a supporter in Auckland.
In Christchurch, a prominent Palestine supporter had a car tyre slashed in his driveway. In Wellington, another supporter of Palestinian rights had a solidarity sticker scraped off their car and a swastika scrawled on the vehicle.
Earlier in the year, a New Plymouth couple had their car tyres slashed outside their property and graffiti attacks on five separate occasions. Police could not find the perpetrator.
Other Palestine supporters had their tyres slashed in Raglan. In this case, the details of the offender, a prominent Auckland businessman in the pro-Israel lobby, were provided to police who refused to prosecute.
At the same time, Israelis, including serving Israeli Defence Force personnel, and former Israelis, have physically attacked people at demonstrations, including outside the Israeli embassy in Wellington.
Palestine Solidarity Network Aotearoa spokesperson Rinad Tamimi says these violent acts would be described as terrorism, if they had been carried out against the Israeli lobby in this country.
“A flat tyre can lead to an accident and death or injury. Lives have been put at risk. There is no question who the targets are – it's the supporters of Palestinian rights protesting against a genocide.”
Tamimi says what she calls radicalised Zionists are to blame.
“They are likely to believe in the most extreme demands and threats made from within the Israeli government. They feel they are entitled to assault people who call out Israeli terror.”
Tamimi says she doesn't know if any of the 50 New Zealanders who serve in the IDF might be responsible for any of the attacks here.
“But we do know that threats are coming more frequently from New Zealand fans of Israel. It seems they are frustrated that Israel is at last being revealed for the genocidal and apartheid state that it is, and they want to take it out on someone.”
Tamimi says PSNA met with senior police earlier this year to express concerns.
“We wanted to raise these attacks and threats against us with the Human Rights Commissioner, Stephen Rainbow, as well.'
“But we have just been informed that Dr Rainbow is too busy and other commissioners are not available till late October”
There is a disturbing pattern of official disinterest – a sharp contrast with their energy and action when the pro-Israel lobby is attacked.