Birmingham council votes to examine Israel-linked investments

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 5 Nov, 09:55 · Archive

Birmingham City Council has voted to examine its financial links with Israel, with councillors chanting in the chamber as the motion passed 54 to 19.

Birmingham City Council has voted to examine its financial links with Israel following a motion that passed 54 to 19 on 3 November. The chamber erupted with councillors leaping to their feet, chanting, cheering and raising fists as the vote passed.

The motion calls for a six-month examination of investments held by both the council and the West Midlands Pension Fund, with potential outcomes including engagement, exclusion or full divestment on human rights grounds. It also urged the authority to scrutinise its procurement, banking arrangements and commercial dealings for connections to companies allegedly involved in breaches of international law. The council resolved to write to Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband about 'illegal Israeli settlements'.

Independent councillor Nosheen Khalid, who brought the motion, said: 'Where money goes, responsibility follows.' She told fellow councillors the decision was 'one step closer to making the right decisions and the right choices for the people of Birmingham and the people of Palestine.' Co-proposer Councillor Jamil Khan insisted the vote was not 'Muslims against Jews', stating that 'the killing of innocent Israelis on October 7 was wrong' and 'the killing of innocent Palestinians is wrong.' The Israeli embassy condemned the move as part of an 'anti-Israel' agenda.

How it is being reported

• UK city council locked in bin strike passes vote on Gaza - chamber chants 'free Palestine'Councillors chanted 'Free Palestine' after passing a motion on the Middle EastDaily Express · 5 Nov, 09:21
• Birmingham councillors chant 'Free Palestine' after vote to ban Israel-linked investmentsChants of “Free Palestine” rang out in the chambers of Birmingham City Council as officials celebrated a successful vote that could ban Israel-linked investments. The city's chamber erupted in raucous scenes as the motion passed this week by a landslide, 54 votes to 19. Footage from the November 3 meeting shared online showed councillors leaping to their feet, chanting, cheering, applauding and raising fists as the vote passed. The motion calls for a six-month examination of investments held by both the council and the West Midlands Pension Fund, with potential outcomes including engagement…GB News · 4 Nov, 16:10

In this story: Birmingham City Council · West Midlands Pension Fund · Nosheen Khalid · Jamil Khan · Ed Miliband · Israel · Palestine · Birmingham

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