Councillor Terry to move:

We welcome the Labour Government’s decision to recognise Palestine as an Independent State delivering its manifesto commitment and taking a vital step to protect the viability of a two-state solution, which must be part of a wider plan for peace.  

Reading Council wishes to see an end to the intolerable suffering of the Palestinian people, unequivocally condemns the horrors of the October 7^th attack and calls for all hostages to be released. We believe that Britain must play a proactive role in promoting a just and lasting peace between a safe and secure Israel and a viable Palestine state. 

Reading Council believes the UK has a moral and legal responsibility to uphold international humanitarian law and act to prevent further civilian suffering in Gaza.

Hamas has been proscribed and sanctioned as a terrorist organisation. We urge that all hostages be released immediately and both sides agree to an immediate ceasefire. Our support for Israel’s right to exist and security of its people remains steadfast. But we demand that the Israeli government must change course – halting their offensive in Gaza and letting desperately needed humanitarian aid in.

The Israeli government’s relentless bombardment of Gaza, the offensive of recent weeks, the starvation, are utterly intolerable. Tens of thousands have been killed, including as they tried to collect food and water. This death and destruction horrifies us all. It must end.

Reading is home to a diverse community, with many of our residents celebrating different faiths. Every resident in Reading deserves to feel safe, celebrated and valued as part of our town no matter their faith or background and we will continue to champion Reading as a diverse and tolerant town.

This Council:

·         Welcomes the Government’s policy of seeking an immediate ceasefire, the safe return of hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas, as well as those held by the Israeli Government and the urgent need for a two-state solution.

·         Welcomes the recent steps towards a peace plan and calls on all parties to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and work to secure peace and a two-state solution.

·         Agrees that the Leader of the Council write to the Foreign Secretary to welcome the Government’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine as part of progress towards a two-state solution.

In accordance with Standing Order 14(10)(a), Councillor Terry received the consent of the Council to alter her motion.

The altered motion was moved by Councillor Terry and seconded by Councillor Eden and CARRIED as set out in the resolution below.

The following amendment was moved by Councillor McElroy and seconded by Councillor Thompson and LOST:

Add the following bullet points to the list at the end of the motion that starts “This Council”:

• Recognises the genocide committed by Israel against the Palestinian people, as per the findings of the United Nations Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. 
• Recognises that in supplying arms and military and intelligence support to the Israeli government the UK government is complicit in this genocide. 
• Recognises that all terrorists and irregular militants should be disarmed and play no part in any future governance arrangements in Israel or Palestine.
• Demands that the UK government immediately implement a full arms embargo on the Israeli government.
• Demands that the UK government immediately withdraw all military and intelligence support for the Israeli government until there is significant progress towards a lasting peace.
• Demands that the UK government support and resource all international cases of genocide and war crime against those responsible for the atrocities committed in Palestine and Israel at the International Criminal Court. 
• Will use all means at their disposal to require that the Berkshire Pension Fund divests from companies that supply arms or military technology to the Israeli government. 

A recorded vote having been demanded, the voting was as follows:

For the amendment: 12

Councillors Cresswell, Hacker, Keane, Magon, McCann, McElroy, Moore, Nikulina, O’Connell, Thompson, White, Williams.

Against the amendment: 32

Councillors Asare, Ayub, Ballsdon, Barnett-Ward, Cross, Davies, Eden, Edwards, Emberson, Ennis, Gavin, Gittings, Goss, Griffith, Hornsby-Smith, Hoskin, Juthani, Keeping, Lanzoni, Leng, Lovelock, McEwan, McGoldrick, McGrother, Mpofu-Coles, Naz, Rowland, Singh, Stevens, Tarar, Terry, Yeo.

Resolved –

We welcome the Labour Government’s decision to recognise Palestine as an Independent State delivering its manifesto commitment and taking a vital step to protect the viability of a two-state solution, which must be part of a wider plan for peace.

We also welcome the release of hostages and the resumption of much needed aid being delivered in Gaza, as part of a developing plan for peace in Israel and Palestine.

Furthermore, we are proud that Reading is home to a diverse community, with many of our residents celebrating different faiths. Every resident in Reading deserves to feel safe, celebrated and valued as part of our town no matter their faith or background and we will continue to champion Reading as a diverse and tolerant town.

This Council:

-        Welcomes the safe return of hostages held by the terrorist group Hamas, as well as those held by the Israeli Government.

-        Welcomes the developing steps towards a permanent peace plan and calls on all parties to bring an end to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and work to secure a permanent peace and a two-state solution in Israel and Palestine.

-        Agrees that the Leader of the Council write to the Foreign Secretary to welcome the Government’s decision to recognise the state of Palestine as part of progress towards a two-state solution.