A 5,300-name petition asking Sheffield City Council to act and stand in solidarity with Palestine in the on-going conflict is to be discussed at a meeting tomorrow.
The petition supported by various group in the city was initially handed in to the council’s budget meeting last Wednesday, but was passed on to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee, which will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3pm in the Town Hall.
Councillors had a intense debate on the petition during Wednesday’s meeting which was also attended by campaigners.
Johnny Feldman, a representative of the petitioners who addressed the council, said: “Do not betray your humanity, your decency and look the other way.”
The petitioners listed three main demands for the council.
The first called on the council to welcome the International Court of Justice Order, that Israel prevent any further genocide act an any incitement of genocide.
It also stated that the council should accept the Amnesty International description of Israel as a state practising the crime against humanity of apartheid and work towards making Sheffield an Israeli-apartheid free zone.
Lastly, the petitioners asked the council to issue a statement of unity and solidarity with the Palestine people.
Councillor Tom Hunt, the Leader of the Council, claimed “these are not tasks that we can fully resolve today”.
He stressed that the council was constrained by legislation and constitution and therefore proposed a motion to refer the demands of the petition to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee for “proper considerations”.
In the meantime, he reaffirmed that the council continues to recognise the state of Palestine as a “full independent nation” and confirmed that the council has no relationship with any of the companies listed in the UN Human Rights Council and has entered a friendship agreement with the city of Nablus in the West Bank.
However, the motion that Coun Hunt proposed raised concerns that this was merely a means to delay decisions.
Coun Alexi Dimond said: “The public may see any decision to refer to S&R as an attempt to save face.”
A statement published by Sheffield Palestine Solidarity Campaign said that: “Unnecessary delays will exacerbate concerns about what is seen as the council’s selective morality when it comes to some sorely oppressed people, in contrast to others, like Ukrainians.”
Annie O’Gara, a spokesperson for the Sheffield Palestine Coalition Against Israeli Apartheid, said: “This is urgent. This is the moral test of our generation and of this council.
“We want you to accept this petition in full today.”
Coun Sophie Wilson also supported a vote to accept the demands of the petition on the day.
She said: “We are the elected members, as we heard from this petition, this is what those who put us in this position want us to do.”
The meeting had to be adjourned before Coun Colin Ross, the Lord Mayor, had decided to deny voting to accept the petition on the day, after taking legal advice.
The council then voted and passed the motion to refer the matter to the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee with 60 votes in favour and 13 votes against.
Coun Hunt assured the audiences that he would try his best as Leader of the Council and Chair of the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee to get a cross-party agreement on the matter as soon as possible before the pre-election period.
“This is the right way forward and the only way forward.”
