SSP councillor’s Israeli arms boycott backed

Posted on May 22, 2015 by Scottish Socialist Voice // 0 Comments

SSP COUNCILLOR JIM BOLLAN: “No peace for apartheid Israel without justice for the Palestinian people”

West Dunbartonshire Council has unanimously backed a motion from SSP councillor for the Leven ward, Jim Bollan, opposing council pension funds investing in firms supplying arms to Israel. West Dunbartonshire is one of 12 councils whose pension funds are part of the Strathclyde Pension Fund and holds a multi-million investment portfolio.

The motion backed by all 22 councillors says: ‘Council agrees to encourage the members of the Strathclyde Pension Fund Committee not to invest any funds in Lockheed Martin the largest military contractor in the world who manufacture Trident, Cluster Bombs and F-16 Fighter Jets or Raytheon who sell weapons to the Israeli Government.

‘Raytheon weapons were used by Israel in the 2014 invasion of Gaza during which 2,000 Palestinians were killed. Council calls on the Strathclyde Pension Fund to invest in ventures where the yield to the fund is similar or higher, but where the venture is constructive rather than destructive.’

Councillor Bollan told the Voice: “The Scottish Socialist Party were delighted the motion they put forward to the full council meeting in West Dunbartonshire last week was agreed unanimously by all 22 councillors.

“West Dunbartonshire already have a boycott of Israeli goods in place and this further move to call for productive, instead of destructive investments with pension funds from council workers confirms our position of seeking truth, justice and equality for the Palestinian people.

“Cutting of the supply of arms to the Zionist apartheid regime in Israel is of paramount importance and must be top of the political agenda for any individual, group or organisation that shares these values.

“Apartheid Israel uses Gaza, an open prison, as a testing ground for these weapons and the SSP is committed to doing all we can to ensure pressure is brought to bear to stop parts for these weapons being manufactured anywhere in Scotland. There can be no peace for apartheid Israel without justice for the Palestinian people.”