NZ’s Washington embassy contacts US Senator Ted Cruz after 'incorrect' Israeli visa claim

Sunday, 2 February 2025

Tens of thousands of Palestinians streamed into the most heavily destroyed part of the Gaza Strip on Monday as Israel lifted its closure of the north for the first time since the early weeks of the 15-month war with Hamas.

New Zealand’s Washington-based diplomats are talking with US Senator Ted Cruz’s staff over “incorrect information” he posted on social media.

Cruz on Saturday posted an Israeli media story on X, formerly Twitter, that claimed New Zealand was now questioning Israeli visitors about their military service and denying them visas -- a claim rejected by the New Zealand Government.

The story also mentioned the “genocide hotline” being promoted by pro-Palestine activist John Minto, which urged people to call if they came across Israeli soldiers holidaying in New Zealand. Stuff reported on Friday the matter was being looked into by police.

Cruz’s promotion of the Haaretz article, and comment that it was “difficult to treat New Zealand as a normal ally within the American alliance system, when they denigrate and punish Israeli citizens for defending themselves”, was directly replied to by Foreign Minister Winston Peters, Defence Minister Judith Collins and minister David Seymour.

Ted Cruz speaks during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee for Kash Patel.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) has now confirmed its Washington embassy “is engaging with the office of Ted Cruz in relation to the incorrect information”.

Cruz had not publicly responded to these interventions, as of Sunday afternoon.

Seymour, a senior Cabinet minister and ACT Party leader, told Stuff he had been briefed on “what may have happened”.

“It's possible that a person would be asked about military service. But look, you know, when I've travelled to other countries, they ask what I do and I say I'm a member of parliament. Everyone gets asked what their job is when they apply for a visa for over three months in another country.'

He said it was 'unfortunate that someone on the other side of the world got confused between John Minto and an actual leader'.

'Our relationship with the United States government is very important. We've been clear - all of us; Winston, myself, right across the Government - as a Government, we welcome Israeli citizens as as visa-waiver tourists just like about 40 or 50 other countries. We do not discriminate.'

Peters on Saturday called the story “fake news” and demanded a correction. Haaretz on Sunday published a report saying New Zealand now “denies” reports of new requirements for Israeli visitors.

Immigration New Zealand deputy chief operating officer Jeannie Melville said, in a statement, there had been “NO” new policies for Israeli or Palestinian nationals.

Senator Ted Cruz during an October debate.

“It is not correct to state that every Israeli wishing to enter New Zealand has to provide details of their service in the Israel Defence Forces.

“Israel is a visa waiver country, which means that travellers do not need a visitor visa for stays under three months, but they do need to complete New Zealand electronic Travel Authority declarations to enter New Zealand.

“There may be certain circumstances where we need more information from an applicant to determine they meet the requirements for entering New Zealand - such as details of their military service - but as mentioned above it is NOT correct to say that every Israeli wanting to visit New Zealand is asked to provide details of their military service.”

Since October 2023, Immigration NZ had approved 809 of the 944 applications from Israelis seeking to temporary and resident visas.