Council backs bid to stop pension funds investing in Israel arms firms

CITY'S FORMER LEADER SAYS DIVESTMENT CALL IS REASONABLE AND NOT ANTISEMITIC

- By JOE LOCKER Local democracy reporter

NOTTINGHAM city councillors have rebutted claims of antisemitism as a motion was passed calling on Nottinghamshire County Council to change its Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) investments in companies that supply arms to Israel's military.

The motion, tabled by city councillor Nayab Patel (Lab) at a meeting on Monday says the fund “should not be investing in companies that facilitate Israel’s breaches of international law.' It further asked that the council notes “growing tensions in the Middle East, breaches of international law, and the worsening humanitarian situation and genocide in Palestine”

It comes after a resolution passed by the International Association of Genocide Scholars (IAGS) claimed Israel’s actions met the legal definition of genocide under the United Nation’s convention - as first reported at the beginning of September. Then, in mid-September, a UN inquiry said Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians, with “reasonable grounds to conclude” four of the five genocidal acts defined under international law had been carried out.

Israel's foreign ministry said at the time it categorically rejected the report, describing it as “distorted and false”.