Norfolk Palestine Solidarity Campaign

Peterborough City Council has passed a motion that will resolve the council to strengthen investment and procurement policies to incorporate the United Nations Guiding Principles on Human Rights, explicitly preclude investment in entities implicated in the production of weapons, state violence, war and occupation, and retender its existing banking contracts with an ethical banking partner.

The motion comes to council following a relentless bombing campaign by Israel in Gaza, with the current “war” already into its 20th month. In this time, Israel has killed over 60,000 people, with the majority being women and children. Israel is now making it difficult for aid to get into Gaza and is pushing the entire 2 million+ population to the brink of starvation.

Many organisations have described these acts as illegal under international law, and with the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank, Israel continues in its quest to ethnically cleanse the entire region.

Cllr Imtiaz Ali (Green) of Orton Longueville ward tabled a motion to full council on Wednesday (June 18) to push the council to act on its commitments of ethical investment and procurement, specifically citing the extensive investments that the council has, either directly or indirectly, in companies that are complicit with Israel’s Human Rights violations.

The motion also commits the council to monitor the Cambridgeshire Pension Schemes investment at an appropriate forum, whether that be at Audit Committee, or included as a link on Full Council agendas.

The vote was passed with 39 votes recorded in favour, 4 against, and 15 abstentions.

Speaking in support of his motion, Cllr Ali said: “…although many members said they found it difficult to get behind this motion if that word [genocide] were to remain, it doesn’t change my view that what we are seeing, live, in 4k, on a daily basis, is anything other than Israel committing a genocide in Gaza.”

He went on to say “Let me be clear, this [motion] is not about politics, nor is it about choosing sides in a geopolitical conflict. This is about whether we, as a council, choose to uphold the universal principles of human rights and international law. It is about ensuring that our investments do not fund oppression, wherever it may occur.”

In response to the motion, a number of councillors also spoke, including Deputy Leader of the council, Mohammed Jamil, who seconded the motion.

​Cllr Mohammed Jamil – Labour group deputy leader

“I don’t know about other councillors, but my inbox certainly in the last couple of weeks has been so saturated by residents, people who we represent, who have asked me to support this motion. And I, like my colleague Cllr Cole, actually believe it should be ethical and it should be right across the board.”

Cllr Blakemore-Creedon – Independent councillor

“I support the principles this motion claims to uphold, human rights, ethical investment, and a commitment to justice. These are values I deeply believe in. This motion includes strong and specific references to Israel, calling it an illegal occupier. Despite removing the word genocide, this motion still refers to Israel as committing apartheid, which is something I can’t get behind…”

Cllr Katie Cole – Labour councillor

“I’ll be supporting this motion but I believe it could and should go further and look at all unethical investments that support war [and cause] human suffering in all areas across the world.”

The meeting can be viewed on the Peterborough City Council’s YouTube channel.

The last National Demonstration for Palestine, commemorating 77 years of ongoing Nakba, more than half a million people marched on the streets of London. However, mainstream media gravely misrepresented this historic moment, speaking of ‘thousands’ or ‘tens of thousands’ rather than ‘hundreds of thousands’. This is why, on the 23rd of May, we as the Norfolk branch of PSC submitted a formal complaint to OFCOM – the National Office for Communications. The complaint reads as follows and we have yet to receive a response:

We are writing to OFCOM in this manner to avoid the algorithmic labyrinth which comprises your formal complaints form. The tragedy unfolding in Gaza is an intense human tragedy, one which cannot be denied, one which has historical consequences for all involved, and which therefore requires direct communication between all of us.

We need not remind you of your legal duties to ensure that the standards of “due impartiality” and “due accuracy” are met by the non-print media. This was definitely not the case in the reporting of the numbers marching in London in support of the Palestinians on Saturday the 17^th of May. The media variously quoted the police figure of 20,000 or gave the numbers as amounting to thousands (BBC TV and ITV) or tens of thousands (SKY).

The actual verifiable turnout based on photographic evidence was at least 500,000. The Independent online later modified their earlier report to include this figure. They were the exception. The under-reporting or misreporting differed by at least a factor of ten. In other words, the Metropolitan Police counted only 4 in every 100 while the rest counted less than 10 in every 100.

An error of this magnitude goes beyond the lack of due diligence. It speaks to bias, to an orchestrated campaign to minimise the level of active opposition to Israel’s actions and ambitions in Gaza and the West Bank.  Our complaint is not in isolation and falls under the context of numerous court cases being heard in the UK regarding the UK government’s breaches of its own laws and codes both at home and at The Hague.

Therefore, we must conclude not only bias but collusion in support of the British and Israeli governments. You are instructed under the terms and obligations of your legal mandate to investigate this bias and inaccuracy, not to mention, in the name of humanity.

We demand, and will only be satisfied by, a thorough and full investigation by your Office. Given that the majority of Britain, according to every poll, disapprove of the conduct of the Israeli Government and their backers in Gaza and given the likelihood that these events amount to a Genocide under the Convention, you need to proceed with the utmost caution and seriousness.

We will of course be happy to participate in any investigation and provide supporting evidence.

We look forward to the results of your comprehensive investigation.

For and on behalf of The Committee,
Norfolk Palestine Solidarity Campaign