Included in this report:

• Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem Directors included in Algemeiner’s J100 list

• Prof Wayne Horowitz: Ancient Texts, Modern Libels

• Antisemitic Trouble in Travellers Paradise 

• Holocaust Remembrance: 80 Years

• Excerpts of Academic Symposium videos

Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem Directors Hon Alfred Ngaro and Dr Sheree Trotter are honoured to be included in Algemeiner’s J100 list of top one hundred individuals who have positively influenced Jewish life over the past year. 

The Algemeiner editors explained that the people on this list are a reflection of the rich and broad spectrum of Jewish life — those who have positively contributed and helped shape the Jewish future. “We want this list not to be a definitive one, but a type of snapshot and perspective of the Jewish world today.”

Alfred and Sheree acknowledge the many Indigenous peoples around the world, past and present, who stand with Israel and have longed for a platform for the Indigenous voice to be heard. This recognition is for them also.

Professor Wayne Horowitz, Hebrew University, recently co-convened the Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem Academic Symposium held at Jerusalem’s Bible Lands Museum in October 2024. Professor Wayne and Lilach Horowitz recently spent several weeks in Aotearoa New Zealand. IEJ assisted in organising speaking engagements around NZ including in Dunedin, Christchurch, Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland. Wayne and Lilach won hearts wherever they went, with their humility and warmth.

Sheree interviewed Wayne about his research work in New Zealand, his views on being Indigenous and the things he’s learnt since October 7. The video interview will be published shortly.

Read Ancient Texts, Modern Libels

But in recent times, anti-Israel activists have become increasingly hostile towards Israeli tourists. Veteran anti-Israel activist John Minto has even gone so far as to publish a poster on social media, entitled ‘Genocide Hotline’, targetting “Israeli soldiers holidaying in New Zealand” and calling on his followers to “track them down so we can let them know they are not welcome”. This is abhorrent. It is reminiscent of 1940s Europe and is a direct result of months of misinformation via mainstream media. 

Many have ignored the fact that Israel is fighting against a radical Islamist group that started a war Israel didn’t want and that Hamas has vowed to repeat the atrocities of 7 October over and over again. The dehumanisation and demonisation of Israelis, and delegitimization of Israel’s just cause to defend its people against ongoing attacks, fits Natan Sharansky’s famous 3D definition of antisemitism. 

The NZ Police and Human Rights Commission have been notified and politicians have been informed. We encourage NZ readers to take action, by notifying police and politicians. We hope that authorities will take this matter seriously. Complaints about Minto’s Facebook page can be filed here:

In addition, we as Indigenous people, are deeply disturbed to see visitors to our land treated in this way. Hospitality and honouring our guests, is highly valued amongst our peoples, and it is distressing to see our Jewish and Israeli friends subject to these racist attacks.

In a few days, we will commemorate 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau.

In her role as co-founder of the Holocaust and Antisemitism Foundation, Dr Sheree Trotter has interviewed 70 Holocaust survivors over the past 15 years, many of who reside in Israel. She has helped to curate exhibitions of their stories. For NZ readers, the Holocaust and Antisemitism Foundation is staging its acclaimed Auschwitz. Now. exhibition in Wellsford, until at least mid-February. There will also be a public Holocaust Remembrance Day event on Sunday 26 February.

Over the coming weeks IEJ will begin to publish video excerpts from our recent Academic Symposium on our social media channels. Much of the current antagonism toward Israel has roots in academia. It is there that a false narrative has taken hold, one that portrays Israel as a foreign colonizer, an occupier of Palestinian lands. Our remarkable lineup of scholars confronted many of those fraudulent claims. The dissemination of their work will be an important step in the fight against antisemitism - the lies that have dominated academic discourse around Israel, her indigeneity, and her connection to her ancestral lands, will be answered!

Planning is underway for Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem’s next Academic Symposium and Solidarity March in central Jerusalem.

Be sure to follow IEJ’s existing channels.

Please consider a monthly donation to assist Indigenous Embassy Jerusalem in this important work.