Agenda item

In accordance with notice on the agenda Councillor Ferguson proposed:

“The Council notes:

That Palestinians have endured the longest ongoing refugee crisis in the world, and respects the right of return as enshrined in international law;

That the current escalation of violence was instigated by the attempt to evict 28 Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah area of Jerusalem as part of an ongoing and systematic campaign of illegal Israeli settlements and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their land;

That Israel’s military operation in Gaza amounts to the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and illegal settlement expansion, represents flagrant breaches of international law;

That a growing list of human rights organisations have determined that Israel’s action amount to apartheid, including the latest report by Human Rights Watch;

That normal co-operation with the Israeli state is therefore untenable in these circumstances.

The Council recognises the rich history of solidarity and activism in this city from all communities for Palestine, including very recently when a huge demonstration called for an end to Israeli mistreatment of the Palestinians; and that such solidarity on the part of our citizens can be an important tool in dismantling support for Israel’s actions.

The Council therefore condemns the actions of the Israeli state, as listed above, and agrees to write to the Irish Government and the UK Government, urging them to expel from office Israeli ambassadors, with immediate effect.”

The motion was seconded by Councillor Matt Collins.

Amendment

            Moved by Councillor McAllister,

            Seconded by Councillor Mulholland,

That the motion standing in the name of Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Matt Collins be amended as follows:

To delete the concluding paragraph from: “The Council therefore condemns the actions of the Israeli state, as listed above, and agrees to write to the Irish Government and the UK Government, urging them to expel from office Israeli ambassadors, with immediate effect” and replace it with the following:  “This Council calls on the UK and Irish governments to make clear to their Israeli counterpart that relations cannot continue as normal while Israel persists with its illegal settlement policy and disproportionate use of force, and stresses that both governments must consider all economic and diplomatic measures to ensure Israel upholds international law.”

The motion, as amended, therefore read:

“The Council notes:

That Palestinians have endured the longest ongoing refugee crisis in the world, and respects the right of return as enshrined in international law;

That the current escalation of violence was instigated by the attempt to evict 28 Palestinian families from the Sheikh Jarrah area of Jerusalem as part of an ongoing and systematic campaign of illegal Israeli settlements and ethnic cleansing of Palestinians from their land;

That Israel’s military operation in Gaza amounts to the ongoing ethnic cleansing of Palestinians, and illegal settlement expansion, represents flagrant breaches of international law;

That a growing list of human rights organisations have determined that Israel’s action amount to apartheid, including the latest report by Human Rights Watch;

That normal co-operation with the Israeli state is therefore untenable in these circumstances.

The Council recognises the rich history of solidarity and activism in this city from all communities for Palestine, including very recently when a huge demonstration called for an end to Israeli mistreatment of the Palestinians; and that such solidarity on the part of our citizens can be an important tool in dismantling support for Israel’s actions.

This Council calls on the UK and Irish governments to make clear to their Israeli counterpart that relations cannot continue as normal while Israel persists with its illegal settlement policy and disproportionate use of force, and stresses that both governments must consider all economic and diplomatic measures to ensure Israel upholds international law.”

            On a recorded vote, ten Members voted for the proposal, as amended, and forty-nine against, and it was declared lost.

            The original motion, as proposed by Councillor Ferguson and seconded by Councillor Matt Collins, was thereupon put to the meeting and, on a recorded vote, thirty-one Members voted for the motion and twenty-eight against and it was declared carried.