A motion condemning the attacks on the Gaza Aid Ship, the Mavi Marmara, will be debated at the full Council Meeting this Tuesday.

Members of local organisations including Bristol-Gaza-Link, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, and the Bristol Turkish Community are also planning submission to the meeting.

Vigil outside the main entrance of the Council House on College Green from 5.30pm onwards.

The meeting itself starts at 6pm

Please bring placards and flags etc


Full text of the motion:-

9. MOTIONS [CPR 2.1(2)(xi)] A COUNCILLOR J KIELY TO MOVE:
This Council notes the long standing links between Bristol and the people of Palestine through a range of organisations and activities over many years; therefore Council condemns the brutal attack on the ships of the Freedom Flotilla, in international waters, by the Israeli military on Monday 31 May 2010.
This was a convoy of ships delivering vital humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. At least nine human rights activists were killed and dozens more injured. Two Bristol citizens, Sakir Yildirim and Cliff Hanley were on one of the ships carrying aid to Gaza. We welcome the statement in the Queen's Speech that the UK Government will “continue to work for a two-state solution that sees a viable Palestinian state existing in peace and security alongside Israel,” but call on the Government to hold Israel to account for this illegal action and to ensure that future convoys from Bristol and elsewhere are able to deliver humanitarian aid without fear of an Israeli army attack.
Council expresses its support for:
The demand of Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan for a prompt, independent and international investigation into the Israeli attack The UK Government to put Pressure on Israel to end the illegal blockade of Gaza and its military occupation of Palestinian land.
Sanctions be imposed on Israel until it complies with international law and ceases perpetrating human rights abuses.
An immediate suspension of the EU-Israel Association Agreement on human rights grounds. An immediate two-way arms embargo between the UK and Israel. Such an embargo would send a clear message to Israel that its actions are unacceptable.
Council requests the Leader of Council to write to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister in support of the above demands and further requests that the Government issues a blanket exemption to all public bodies to allow them to dis-invest in Countries that flout international law in the above manner.

See http://www.bristol.gov.uk/item/committeecontent/?ref=ta...te=00