Bristol council calls for divestment in win for Palestine movement

Campaigners celebrating (Picture: PSC)

In a victory for the Palestine movement, Bristol City Council has called for divestment from firms complicit in Israel’s genocide and arms companies.

Green councillor Shona Jemphrey tabled the motion, which passed with 57 votes out of 70 in favour, on Tuesday. The motion’s passing follows months of sustained pressure on Bristol council from campaigners.

The motion committed the council to “call for an immediate and permanent bilateral ceasefire to stop the catastrophic loss of life”.

It also calls for Bristol’s local government pension funds—which aren’t directly controlled by the council—“to develop an ethical investment policy”.

They should “specifically seek to divest” from arms manufacturers and companies on the United Nations’ list of businesses involved in activities in the illegal-settlements in the Occupied Territories.

Bristol Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) said, “We are proud that our city has voted to stand with the Palestinian people in their hour of greatest need.”

Charlie, a Palestine campaigner in Bristol, told Socialist Worker, “The Avon pension fund represents council workers and workers in different employers. It’s wider than Bristol alone so that’s significant and it’s a broader victory.”

Avon pension fund represents over 450 employers in the Avon area, with over 135,000 members. The Bath and North East Somerset Council are legally responsible for the fund, which is worth over £5.8 billion.

According to PSC figures, Avon fund has over £3.5 million in arms manufacturers Northrop Grumman, and another £3.5 million in Safran, which provides equipment to Israeli police. Total complicit investments are worth over £18.8 million.

The motion has not yet secured any divestment.

Charlie said, “The hope is that council representatives will go to the pension fund and argue for divestment.”

But the fact that the motion was tabled—and passed—is a significant win for the Palestine movement. “It shows the importance of tactics,” he said. “Divestment is very important and measurable so it’s something we can win concrete victories on.

“What’s been successful is the lobbying of councillors, which was mainly through protests and direct correspondence.”

The Green Party leads Bristol City Council, but doesn’t have overall control, with 34 out of 70 councillors.

Charlie said, “There’s a belief that the Greens will just sort it out, but it took several months and numerous lobbies of council meetings. Then one Green councillor agreed to table the motion, which was initially drafted by the PSC. Once the motion was accepted, protests increased.

“In terms of next steps, the council is a good target—we need to make sure there is divestment.”

The Palestine movement in Bristol has put sustained and direct pressure on its council and achieved a crucial first step. It should be an inspiration to the movement across Britain to demand institutions break with the Israeli state.