We felt it was important to acknowledge and celebrate publicly the 70th anniversary of the birth of the Modern State of Israel. The birth of the State of Israel on 14 May 1948 was a miracle. Her continued survival is also a miracle – all good cause for celebration.

United Nations Security Council Resolution 2334 was a stab in the back for Israel and a stab in the heart of people like me. Our response didn’t pull any punches.

We had to make a good rally in the heart of our city Hastings on this day. Anti-Israel protesters had a momentum of hatred and deceit through NZ, so on this day we countered that.

The Israeli Ambassador was invited to speak at the NZ Institute of International Affairs on this day—which happened to be during the heated Gaza War.

We joined Tony Martin and supported his Peace Rally at Midland Park just around the corner from the Israeli Embassy during the Gaza War of 2014.

The first counter protest rally we were involved in was on 22 February 2014. It was outside the St James theatre in Wellington. We were up against BDS activists.