31 October 2023

 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Green Group brings pro-peace motion to upcoming full council meeting

 

[Bournemouth, 7th November] — BCP Council’s Green Group, plans to bring a motion hoping for a ceasefire and instructing the council to be ready to offer support for those displaced and affected by the events taking place. The motion, which reflects the group's dedication to fostering understanding, support, and unity in times of conflict, is aimed at promoting peace and empathy in the wake of the ongoing conflict in Israel and Palestine, text as below.

 

This Council

• Expresses deep sympathy for all those affected by the conflict in Israel and Palestine. To those in the BCP area who have been affected by this conflict we offer our support in this difficult time.

• Hopes for an immediate further release of all hostages and an immediate ceasefire to allow more aid and the possibility of a peaceful resolution.

• Believes Muslims Jews and people of all faiths and none should feel safe and supported throughout the world and condemns the increase in antisemitic and Islamophobic violence and abuse in the UK.

 

This Council resolves to

• Through the equalities action commission explore how the council can better support and facilitate events for people of all faiths and none where they can come together and express solidarity and sadness in response to these events. 

• Offer appropriate support to any local resident who needs our assistance as a result of these violent events

• Stand ready to provide support and open our arms to innocent people displaced and affected by these events.

• Condemn the use of all dehumanising language and calls on our communities to treat each other with respect and refrain from inflammatory terms to describe either the Palestinian or Israeli populations, especially in a time of crisis.

• Continue flying the UN flag as a symbol of peace outside the town hall until a ceasefire is agreed

 

Joe Salmon (Moordown) proposed the motion which has been seconded by Kate Salmon (Moordown), he said

 

“Politicians and diplomats have created a vacuum by refusing to engage meaningfully with this situation and its root causes for generations. This space has been filled by the divisive partisan voices of those who look to extend and exploit this conflict for their gain. The failure of so many of our politicians, such as Rishi Sunak and Kier Starmer to condemn both the attacks carried out by Hamas and the disproportionate response of the IDF is a failure of leadership. 

 

In any response to this conflict, it's crucial to acknowledge, as UN Secretary-General António Guterres has emphasised, that the actions carried out by Hamas did not occur in a vacuum.

 

Currently, our government's approach is based on the misconception that absolute justice can be achieved by attributing blame to one side for all the actions, including those of the other side. However, the reality is much more complex; individuals can simultaneously be both victims and perpetrators. In most conflicts, the responsibility for crimes and atrocities falls somewhere between 100% and 0%. This is a fundamental aspect of the situation, yet our government struggles to fully embrace this reality.

 

In doing so our government risks being complicit in the real time execution of the ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian people.

 

We are hoping our council can show that politicians and leaders can come together and take a more nuanced, compassionate and productive stance, one that calls for an immediate ceasefire.”

 

Bilal Yasin who has coordinated some of the anti-war demonstrations taking place in Bournemouth said

“As representatives of our community we want all our politicians, councillors, MP and all other elected officials to work tirelessly for an immediate ceasefire, nothing more and nothing less, suggestion of humanitarian pauses do not go far enough. We are witnessing a genocide in real time, this is a humanitarian issue and we all have a clear moral obligation to prevent this killing”

 

Residents who are members of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign are calling on local councillors, MPs and government to:

 

• Work tirelessly to bring the conflict to an end
• Engage with international bodies like the UN to help coordinate and supply humanitarian relief efforts for those impact by the conflict
• Use the UKs diplomatic influence to work towards a genuine two state solution, end the illegal occupation of territory by Israel and grant the right of return to the displaced Palestinians and their families

For further comment please contact 

Bilal Yasin - Bilal.87@hotmail.co.uk - 07957 248 415

Joe Salmon - JoeSalmon1985@gmail.com - 07926 714 549

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