Agenda and minutes

The Chief Executive submitted the summons convening the meeting.

            Apologies for inability to attend were reported for Alderman Copeland and Councillors Bower, F. McAteer and McCusker.

            No declarations of interest were reported.

This Council notes that the United Nations (UN) has designated 29th November as the 'International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people'. The Council will hold a Special Council on that date to give our solidarity and support to the Palestinian people of Belfast.

This Council recognises that this International Day of Solidarity comes at a time when the world has watched the indiscriminate murder of thousands of civilians in the Middle East. 

We look on at the horrific onslaught in the Middle East and the daily bombardment of Gaza and the pain and suffering being inflicted on the civilian population there, and know from our own experience in Ireland, that only through ceasefires, dialogue, negotiation and peaceful political accommodation will this nightmare end. 

This Council calls for immediate ceasefires, for the immediate release of all hostages, and for the unconditional adherence by all parties to their commitments under international law and the UN charter. 

The position of the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland is now untenable, the Ambassador should no longer enjoy diplomatic status in Ireland while Israel refuses the imperative for ceasefires and as the suffering and death toll grow. 

This Council also recognises the  International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people is an important opportunity for the international community to highlight the continued denial to the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights as defined by the UN General Assembly, namely, the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property, from which they have been forcibly displaced. 

This Council acknowledges the findings by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese that 'Israel’s cruel policies of segregation, dispossession and exclusion across all territories under its control clearly amount to apartheid'.  

In light of these findings, this Council calls on the UN to take meaningful action and re-establish its 'Special Committee against Apartheid' to dismantle Israel's apartheid systems.

Proposer Councillor Beattie

Seconder Councillor Nic Bhranair

            In accordance with notice on the agenda, Councillor Beattie proposed:

“This Council notes that the United Nations (UN) has designated 29th November as the 'International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people'. The Council will hold a Special Council on that date to give our solidarity and support to the Palestinian people of Belfast.

This Council recognises that this International Day of Solidarity comes at a time when the world has watched the indiscriminate murder of thousands of civilians in the Middle East.

We look on at the horrific onslaught in the Middle East and the daily bombardment of Gaza and the pain and suffering being inflicted on the civilian population there, and know from our own experience in Ireland, that only through ceasefires, dialogue, negotiation and peaceful political accommodation will this nightmare end.

This Council calls for immediate ceasefires, for the immediate release of all hostages, and for the unconditional adherence by all parties to their commitments under international law and the UN charter.

The position of the Israeli Ambassador to Ireland is now untenable, the Ambassador should no longer enjoy diplomatic status in Ireland while Israel refuses the imperative for ceasefires and as the suffering and death toll grow.

This Council also recognises the  International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people is an important opportunity for the international community to highlight the continued denial to the Palestinian people of their inalienable rights as defined by the UN General Assembly, namely, the right to self-determination without external interference, the right to national independence and sovereignty, and the right to return to their homes and property, from which they have been forcibly displaced.

This Council acknowledges the findings by Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese that 'Israel’s cruel policies of segregation, dispossession and exclusion across all territories under its control clearly amount to apartheid'.

In light of these findings, this Council calls on the UN to take meaningful action and re - establish its 'Special Committee against Apartheid' to dismantle Israel's apartheid systems.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Nic Bhranair.

Amendment 1

Moved by Councillor Maghie,

Seconded by Councillor Nelson,

                  That the Motion, standing in the name of Councillor Beattie, be amended as follows:

“This Council notes that the United Nations (UN) has designated  29th November  as the 'International Day of Solidarity with the  Palestinian  people'. The Council meeting will hold a Special Council on that date to give demonstrate our solidarity and support to for the Palestinian people of Belfast.

This Council recognises that this International Day of Solidarity comes at a time when the world has watched is watching unprecedented war crimes being committed against the Palestinian people.

We mourn the loss of over 14,000 Palestinians killed in the recent atrocities and express our horror and condemnation at Israel’s collective punishment of Palestinians in Gaza, including the indiscriminate murder of thousands killing of civilians in the Middle East and destruction of civilian infrastructure, the forced expulsion of over 1 million Palestinians  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.