Agenda item
TO CONSIDER MOTIONS SUBMITTED BY MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
The motions submitted by Members of the Council for debate at this Council Meeting are set out in agenda item 11.
Decision:
11.1 Motion submitted by Councillor Abjol Miah regarding support for the Palestinians in Gaza
The motion as printed in the agenda was moved by Councillor Abjol Miah and seconded by Councillor Harun Miah.
An amendment moved by Councillor Lutfur Rahman and seconded by Councillor Ohid Ahmed was agreed.
The substantive motion as amended was then agreed as follows:
DECISION
This Council notes:
That during the recent Israeli offensive against Gaza, more than 1300 Palestinians have been killed.
That over 400 of these are children and over 100 women.
That over 5500 people have been injured sufficiently seriously to be admitted to hospital.
That three Israeli civilians and 13 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
That many civilians on both sides have died since the breakdown of the peace process in 2000. (727 Israeli civilians and 2200 Palestinian civilians from 2000-2007 according to Israeli Human Rights Group B’Tselem as cited by OCHA).
That combined with the long-standing blockade of the Gaza Strip, the current hostilities have precipitated a massive humanitarian crisis.
That Israel ignored a UN call to ceasefire for over a week until its aims had been achieved.
That both sides have concluded separate ceasefires but that the underlying problems remain unresolved.
This Council believes:
That military action resulting in the death of civilians, whether as a result of deliberate targeting or “collateral damage” is incompatible with the values of a liberal democracy.
That Israel has used disproportionate and insufficiently discriminating force in the Gaza Strip.
That Israeli tactics, combined with the long-standing blockade of the Gaza Strip amount to the collective punishment of an entire population, in contravention of the Geneva Convention.
That Israeli aggression is unlikely to achieve its stated aims preventing rocket attacks and has demonstrably led to a rise in anti-Israeli sentiment across the world.
This Council resolves:
To condemn this Israeli incursion into Gaza
To call on the British Government to express that condemnation unequivocally and ask Ministers to:
· Condemn Israel’s use of disproportionate and insufficiently discriminating military force
· Call on our government to pressure Israel to halt settlement on Palestinian land
· Call on each side to renounce violence and negotiate a settlement for a secure Israel and an economically and politically viable Palestinian state based on 1967 borders
· Consider sanctions against Israel if it refuses to engage in negotiation, just as the US and others have lent support to the de facto sanctions applied on Gaza and Hamas in the form of the Israeli blockade
· Write to the BBC and Sky TV condemning their refusal to air a DEC appeal for aid on behalf of the people of Gaza
· Halt arms exports.
To condemn rocket attacks by Hamas on civilian targets in Israel.
To condemn anti-Semitic attacks, graffiti and abuse within Tower Hamlets or anywhere else.
To support people in Gaza by exploring possibilities for friendship with organisations in the region who are committed to a just and lasting peace and encouraging local businesses to stock fair trade Palestinian products.
To ask youth workers and the Humanities Education Centre to engage with young people on the human rights issues at the heart of the Middle East conflict.
Motions 11.2 – 11.12 as listed below were not considered due to lack of time, the meeting having closed in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 (Duration of meeting).
11.2 Motion submitted by Councillor Tim Archer regarding waste incentives and bin taxes
11.3 Motion submitted by Councillor Salim Ullah regarding condemning homophobia and prejudice
11.4 Motion submitted by Councillor Stephanie Eaton regarding eliminating excessive punishment for minor parking offences
11.5 Motion submitted by Councillor Harun Miah regarding freezing charges and taxes and maintaining services
11.6 Motion submitted by Councillor Peter Golds regarding the future of homeowners and the local economy in Tower Hamlets
11.7 Motion submitted by Councillor Alex Heslop regarding support for the co-operative and social enterprise sector
11.8 Motion submitted by Councillor Dulal Uddin regarding boosting Council Housing
11.9 Motion submitted by Councillor Lutfur Rahman regarding the Sustainable Communities Act
11.10 Motion submitted by Councillor Fozol Miah regarding support for Lifelong Learning
11.11 Motion submitted by Councillor Md. Mamun Rashid regarding the plight of Latham House
11.12 Motion submitted by Councillor Md. Abdul Munim regarding ‘parking tyranny’
The meeting ended at 10.46pm
Minutes:
11.1 Motion submitted by Councillor Abjol Miah regarding support for the Palestinians in Gaza
The motion as printed in the agenda was moved by Councillor Abjol Miah and seconded by Councillor Harun Miah.
A tabled amendment was moved by Councillor Lutfur Rahman and seconded by Councillor Ohid Ahmed. Following debate this amendment was put to the vote and was agreed.
The substantive motion as amended was then put to the vote and agreed and it was accordingly
RESOLVED
This Council notes:
That during the recent Israeli offensive against Gaza, more than 1300 Palestinians have been killed.
That over 400 of these are children and over 100 women.
That over 5500 people have been injured sufficiently seriously to be admitted to hospital.
That three Israeli civilians and 13 Israeli soldiers have been killed.
That many civilians on both sides have died since the breakdown of the peace process in 2000. (727 Israeli civilians and 2200 Palestinian civilians from 2000-2007 according to Israeli Human Rights Group B’Tselem as cited by OCHA).
That combined with the long-standing blockade of the Gaza Strip, the current hostilities have precipitated a massive humanitarian crisis.
That Israel ignored a UN call to ceasefire for over a week until its aims had been achieved.
That both sides have concluded separate ceasefires but that the underlying problems remain unresolved.
This Council believes:
That military action resulting in the death of civilians, whether as a result of deliberate targeting or “collateral damage” is incompatible with the values of a liberal democracy.
That Israel has used disproportionate and insufficiently discriminating force in the Gaza Strip.
That Israeli tactics, combined with the long-standing blockade of the Gaza Strip amount to the collective punishment of an entire population, in contravention of the Geneva Convention.
That Israeli aggression is unlikely to achieve its stated aims preventing rocket attacks and has demonstrably led to a rise in anti-Israeli sentiment across the world.
This Council resolves:
To condemn this Israeli incursion into Gaza
To call on the British Government to express that condemnation unequivocally and ask Ministers to:
· Condemn Israel’s use of disproportionate and insufficiently discriminating military force
· Call on our government to pressure Israel to halt settlement on Palestinian land
· Call on each side to renounce violence and negotiate a settlement for a secure Israel and an economically and politically viable Palestinian state based on 1967 borders
· Consider sanctions against Israel if it refuses to engage in negotiation, just as the US and others have lent support to the de facto sanctions applied on Gaza and Hamas in the form of the Israeli blockade
· Write to the BBC and Sky TV condemning their refusal to air a DEC appeal for aid on behalf of the people of Gaza
· Halt arms exports.
To condemn rocket attacks by Hamas on civilian targets in Israel.
To condemn anti-Semitic attacks, graffiti and abuse within Tower Hamlets or anywhere else.
To support people in Gaza by exploring possibilities for friendship with organisations in the region who are committed to a just and lasting peace and encouraging local businesses to stock fair trade Palestinian products.
To ask youth workers and the Humanities Education Centre to engage with young people on the human rights issues at the heart of the Middle East conflict.
11.2 Motion submitted by Councillor Tim Archer regarding waste incentives and bin taxes.
Councillor Tim Archer moved and Councillor Peter Golds seconded the motion as printed in the agenda.
Councillor Tim Archer moved and Councillor Peter Golds seconded under Rule 14.1.10 that the question be now put.
The procedural motion was put to the meeting and was defeated.
The Mayor then closed the meeting in accordance with Rule 9 (duration of meeting). Motions 11.2 – 11.12 as listed below were not considered due to lack of time:-
11.2 Motion submitted by Councillor Tim Archer regarding waste incentives and bin taxes
11.3 Motion submitted by Councillor Salim Ullah regarding condemning homophobia and prejudice
11.4 Motion submitted by Councillor Stephanie Eaton regarding eliminating excessive punishment for minor parking offences
11.5 Motion submitted by Councillor Harun Miah regarding freezing charges and taxes and maintaining services
11.6 Motion submitted by Councillor Peter Golds regarding the future of homeowners and the local economy in Tower Hamlets
11.7 Motion submitted by Councillor Alex Heslop regarding support for the co-operative and social enterprise sector
11.8 Motion submitted by Councillor Dulal Uddin regarding boosting Council Housing
11.9 Motion submitted by Councillor Lutfur Rahman regarding the Sustainable Communities Act
11.10 Motion submitted by Councillor Fozol Miah regarding support for Lifelong Learning
11.11 Motion submitted by Councillor Md. Mamun Rashid regarding the plight of Latham House
11.12 Motion submitted by Councillor Md. Abdul Munim regarding ‘parking tyranny’
Supporting documents: