Minutes:
The City Mayor reminded Members of the summary of issues and options received from the Monitoring Officer regarding a legal challenge that had been made following the approval by Council on 13th November 2014 Council of the following motion:
Preamble
Leicester is a City renowned for its tolerance, diversity, unity and its strong stance against all forms of discrimination, this position enables different communities to live together. It is also important when there is oppression and injustices, that Leicester City Council takes up a position to support communities experiencing such inequalities and in this instance it is the plight of the Palestinian people, which is why the following resolution is being moved.
The Motion
Leicester City Council recognises the right of the State of Israel to exist in peace and free from incursion, but condemns the Government of Israel for its continuing illegal occupation of Palestine’s East Jerusalem and the West Bank; for its continuing blockade of Gaza; and the illegal appropriation of land in the West Bank and settlement buildings.
The Council welcomes the decision of the United Nations on 29 November 2012 to recognise Palestine “non-member observer State”, but for the people of Palestine the suffering since 1967 continues. The Council also welcomes UK Parliament's vote on 13th October 2014 to recognise Palestinian Statehood even though the United Kingdom Government fails to do so. It is with regret we note the Government of Israel continues to ignore and breach International Law, Geneva Convention and UN Resolutions and continues with its occupation of Palestinian territories.
Therefore, Leicester City Council resolves, insofar as legal considerations allow, to boycott any produce originating from illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank until such time as it complies with international law and withdraws from Palestinian Occupied territories. Furthermore, Leicester City Council continues its example of good community relationships by developing a sustainable city, promoting harmony and respect for all people to live in a neighbourly way.
The City Mayor noted that he had received representations from a large range of individuals both for and against the motion including Arthur Goodman of Jews for Justice for Palestinians and the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Jonathon Arkush. The City Mayor further stated that the motion had been represented by some as anti-Semitic or as a boycott of Israel which was not the case but had been an attempt to draw attention to an issue which had direct resonance in the City and was the subject of significant international debate.
The City Mayor noted that the Monitoring Officer had outlined the legal position and that costs could be as high as £200,000 in addition to the Council’s own legal costs should the court rule against the Council. The City Mayor noted that in order to mitigate the risk the Council could choose to rescind the decision which may have the effect of encouraging the claimant to withdraw the claim or allow the Council’s legal representatives to invite the Court to treat the claim as ‘academic’. Should Members wish to take this route it was open to any 5 Members of the Council to request the Lord Mayor to call a special Council meeting which could further consider the resolution and whether to rescind. The City Mayor noted that the hearing was currently scheduled for 4 May 2016 so any such meeting would need to be called within the next few weeks. In summary the City Mayor noted that it fell to the Council and its Members whether to choose to call a special meeting to consider whether to rescind in order to potentially mitigate the financial risk or to defend the position taken.