Support for anti-apartheid council

January 22, 2011
Issue 
Marrickville Mayor Fiona Byrne.

Marrickville Council has stayed firm in the face of criticism for its recent decision to join the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israeli apartheid in Palestine.

The council passed a Greens-initiated motion to support the BDS campaign on December 14.

The motion read: “In particular recognition of its sister city relationship with Bethlehem and the strong support for this relationship from local progressive faith communities and other community members, Marrickville Council support the principles of the BDS global campaign and reports back on any links the Council has with organisations or companies that support or profit from the Israeli military occupation of Palestine with a view to the Council divesting from such links and imposing a boycott on any future such links or goods purchases.

“Marrickville Council [will] boycott all goods made in Israel and any sporting, institutional academic, government or institutional cultural exchanges.

“Marrickville Council [will] write to the local state and federal ministers (Carmel Tebbutt and Anthony Albanese) informing them of council’s position and seeking their support at the state and federal level for the global BDS movement.”

Earlier in December, the NSW Greens’ state delegates council also passed a motion supporting the BDS campaign.

Pip Hinman, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the NSW state electorate of Marrickville, has added her support to the council’s decision.

Hinman rejected criticism of the decision made by the local state Labor MP Carmel Tebbutt and federal Labor MP Anthony Albanese. She congratulated the Marrickville Mayor Fiona Byrne for her stand.

Hinman said: “The whole point of the BDS campaign is that, despite national policy being skewed by the anti-Palestinian bias of both major parties, we can campaign for our trade unions, community organisations, campuses and local governments to oppose Israel’s oppression of Palestinians.

“People in this community care about what happens in the wider world.”

Comments

as life longer supporter of the greens you have truly disappointed me with this decision. You certainly won't be getting another vote from me due to this childish tit for tat behavior. Here's wishing this will be your first and last seat in NSW.
I don't blame you, I blame the morons who voted in fanatics like you and the leftist lunatics. You want to drive us back into the dark ages. I like the previous comment hope you get NO seats in parliament. Bernie

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