Brent candidates' views on the Israel-Palestine conflict

Following last week's hustings on War, Peace and the Middle East readers may be interested in their Brent candidates views on the Israel-Palestine situation.

This is the up to date information received so far from the Palestine Solidarity Campaign's questionnaire to candidates. It is long so I have split the page.

BRENT CENTRAL

Shahrar Ali of the Green Party has responded.

They agree the UK Government should uphold the principles of equality, human rights and international law in all its relations and dealings with Israel.

They agree that the construction of Israeli settlements construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem is illegal and unjustifiable.

They agree that one of the first acts of the next UK Government should be the recognition of Palestine.

They agree that the blockade of Gaza should be lifted immediately.

They agree that we should stop trade with Israel’s settlements on Palestinian land and stop settlement goods being sold in Britain.

They agree that the EU Israel Association should be suspended until Israel meets its human rights obligations.

They agree that the UK Government should stop supplying arms to Israel until it complies with international law.

 

The Green Party believes that the Arab-Israeli conflict persists owingto the failure to find a fair and humane solution to the problems of thePalestinian people; and at the same time offer appropriate guarantees ofsecurity for Israel.

We condemned Israel's ground invasion and bombardment of Gaza in 2014,and continue to call on the UN, the EU and the US to ensure that Israel complies with international law.

We also call on Israel to evacuate illegal settlements within the occupied territories of Palestine. In addition, we call on the government of Israel to dismantle the 'West Bank Barrier' which divides
Palestinian territories, depriving Palestinians of land, water, and employment.

The Green Party supports active participation in the boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign which aims to put pressure on the government of Israel to end the Occupation and to give equal rights to Palestinians.

We believe that in the present situation neither the UK government nor UK companies should be selling arms to Israel.

The Green Party is committed to principles of equality, human rights and international law. There can be no lasting peace without justice.'

Majority of responding candidates condemn illegal Israeli settlements

From the Palestine Solidarity Campaign. The views of Brent Central, Brent North and Hampstead and Kilburn candidates can be found HERE and will be updated when more responses are received. The Palestine issue along with other topics relating to conflicts will be discussed at a hustiongs on Monday April 13th at the Pakistan Centre, Marley Walk, Station Road at 7.30pm on Monday April 13th. DETAILS

General Election candidates who responded to an email survey co-ordinated by Palestine Solidarity Campaign have overwhelmingly condemned Israeli settlements as illegal under international law.

The vast majority also said they agreed that the next UK government should uphold the principles of equality, human rights and international law in all its relations and dealings with Israel.

Declared candidates in England, Wales and Scotland were sent more than 30,000 emails, using a PSC e-tool, by supporters of justice for Palestinians. The emails asked a series of questions designed to ascertain each candidate’s stance on Palestine and Israel.

The views of nearly 600 candidates were obtained and have now been made available on PSC’s website.

The candidates were asked: Do you consider the construction of Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land in the West Bank and East Jerusalem to be illegal and unjustifiable?

Of the 470 candidates who responded to this question, 93% said yes. Many expanded on their answer, and, across all parties, were unequivocal in their condemnation of Israel’s settlements.

Candidates were also asked: Do you urge the UK government to uphold the principles of equality, human rights and international law in all its relations and dealings with Israel?

Of the 377 candidates who replied to this question, 97% said yes.

Sarah Colborne, Director of PSC, said:

These figures show clear support among Parliamentary candidates for international law to be applied to Israel, especially over its continued settlement building in the West Bank and Jerusalem. The settlements have been unequivocally condemned by the majority of candidates polled as illegal and unjustifiable.

We would like to see these candidates, if elected, carry this support into Parliament and translate their words into positive action that will see the end of Israel’s occupation of Palestinian land, and justice, freedom and self-determination for the Palestinian people.

UK voters can find out where their candidates stand on the issue of justice for Palestinians by going to the ‘Candidates’ Views’ section on PSC’s website and entering their postcode. New candidates are being added regularly, as more responses are received.

It's simple: my taxes should not go to a war profiteer like Veolia

Presentation by Dan Judelson of Jews for Justice for Palestinians and a Labour Party member to Brent Executive 14 October 2013. The Executive voted to give the 9 year multi-million Public Realm contract to Veolia.

Collecting waste is one of the most basic, fundamental responsibilities of a council. Ask someone what they want in terms of local services and chances are high that they will begin any such list with “empty my bins.”

Over the last three and a half decades, there has been an enormous change in the delivery of these services and a particular upshot of that is that a waste collection contract may now be part of a lucrative business.

So it is entirely understandable that Brent residents should ask questions about where council money is being spent. One of the bidders – the remaining bidder – for this public realm contract is part of a company that derives income directly form illegal activity.

I do not want to rehash in detail all of the arguments about how this happens; I know councillors and executive members will already be aware of much of this thanks to the debate over the past few months. Yet it is worth reminding ourselves of the basics of what happens at the Tovlan landfill site, operated by Veolia, in the Jordan Valley.

It handles waste from illegal Israeli settlements on land that would form part of the putative Palestinian state. Not a pennyworth of licence fee is paid by Veolia to the Palestinian authority for this privilege. In the meantime, Israeli institutions from the government to the Army to local settlers are actively trying to take over and control the Jordan Valley.

The government of Israel financially promotes illegal settlement in the Jordan Valley. According to the Israeli NGO B’tselem ,”the average grant per capita to Israeli settlers in the West bank [has been] approximately 57% higher than the average expenditure per capita for Israeli citizens inside Israel.”

Furthermore, the head of the Jordan Valleys settlers group has stated explicitly that “Approving the programme [of expansion] will change the face of the Jordan Valley beyond recognition – beyond recognition – and attract returning sons and families from outside to come to the region. Although a political cloud – an interesting euphemism – hangs over the region, this is the way to attract residents. (Italics mark my emphasis.)

So it is crucial to recognise that we are not talking about some abstract or vague connection with illegal activity. Operation of the Tovlan site contributes directly to sustaining illegal settlements and their expansion in the Jordan Valley, something that has been acknowledged as illegal by governments around the world – including that of Israel – since at least 1968.

These are issues that have been raised during the campaign but I raise them now because they leave a number of questions unanswered.

1. We have heard that Brent Council Procurement and Legal Services have been determined to exclude such political factors from the bidding process on the basis of a legal opinion but we have heard also that this advice has been embargoed. Brent Council has to explain, why the exclusion, why the embargo?

2. We have heard, too, about the potential for legal action from Veolia should they be excluded from the bidding process. Yet they have been excluded or have not been awarded contracts in the West Midlands, in Ealing, Richmond and East Sussex. They have been denied business in Dublin. Utrecht and The Hague – not to mention, far closer to home, the North and the West London Waste Authorities. I would like to know if Brent Council consulted with any of these bodies to try ad establish the ground on which these contracts were not awarded or the bidder excluded from the tendering process.

3. Current EU guidelines state that the EU will not enter into any contract or relationship with a company or organisation that operates in the illegally occupied West Bank. This is sure to affect EU law across the 27 states over the duration of the public realm contract being discussed here tonight. Has this factor been considered by the council executive?

4. Given what we know about Veolia’s operations in the West Bank, what consideration has been given to attaching conditions or riders to this very long contract, offering Veolia an opportunity to divest itself of the illegal operations we have heard about tonight.

Councillors, there are members of the Green Party, the Labour Party, of Stop the War, of Brent PSC and I myself am a signatory of Jews for Justice for Palestinians. But we are here tonight to decide the best course of action for Brent residents no matter what their political allegiance of campaign affiliation.

Hello. My name is Dan Judelson. I have lived in Algernon Road, Kilburn for the past 15 years and as a Brent resident and council-tax payer, I object most strenuously to my taxes going to fill the coffers of a war profiteer like Veolia. It’s as simple as that.

Brent Officers recommend Veolia gets multi-million pound Public Realm contract

Usually well informed Brent Council sources say the the Brent Council Executive on October 14th will be recommended by officers to award the new multi-million Public Realm contract to the controversial French multi-national Veolia.

The contract covers waste collection, recycling, street sweeping, parks maintenance, cemeteries maintenance and grounds maintenance for Brent Housing Partnership estates.

The Bin Veolia in Brent Campaign has called on the Council to exclude Veolia from the lucrative contract on the grounds of its grave misconduct. The allegations relate to Veolia's operations in the occupied territories of Palestine where it helps maintain the infrastructure for illegal Israeli settlements on stolen Palestinian land.

Bin Veolia in Brent argue that Brnt council tax payers' money should not be used to enrich a company involved in the undermining of Palestinian human rights. Brent Council, representing a diverse population and committed to social justice, should ensure that it only awards contracts to ethical companies - just as pension fund investments are subject to an ethical test..

The Bin Veolia campaign's argument was backed by the General Committees of both the Brent Central and Hampstead and Kilburn Labour Parties, many individual Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green party members as well as Brent Trade Union Council and Brent members of Jews for Justice for Palestinians.

More than 2,000 people signed a petition calling for the exclusion of Veolia from the contract. There were speakers supporting exclusion at many of the last round of Brent Connects forums. Their comments were referred to Cllr Roxanne Mashari but the petition was referred to Fiona Ledden, head of legal and procurement and no response has been forthcoming.

Throughout the process Bin Veolia in Brent and Brent Palestine Solidarity Campaign have published their legal advice on the issue. For their part Brent Council officers have been obstructive and despite Freedom of Information requests have refused to publish the  legal advice  they have obtained.  This made it impossible for the campaigns to answer legal points taken on board by the council. It is likely that the council's failure to be transparent and answer genuine questions from residents could be grounds for a judicial review.

An attempt by Liberal Democrat councillors to raise the issue at a full council meeting was ruled out of order on the advice of officers.

A spokesperson for the Bin Veolia in Brent campaign said:

If the sources are correct then Brent councillors on the Executive need to seriously consider rejecting the officers' recommendation. The Council only recently awarded the Freedom of Brent to Nelson Mandela, a man who said he could never be free until the Palestinians are free. Back in the 80s the Labour Brent Council was in the forefront of the struggle against apartheid in South Africa and despite officer advice at the time did take a stand against awarding IT contracts to firms operating in South Africa.

Brent Labour Council should stand up for the freedom of Palestinians, not give our money to a company that helps oppress them.

The agenda for the Brent Executive will not be available on the council website until the weekend.