
A Sheffield Green Party Councillor has called on the South Yorkshire Pension Authority to stop funding Israel, weapons and fossil fuels.
Sheffield City Council’s contributions to employee pensions are invested through the South Yorkshire Pension Authority.
Gleadless Valley Councillor Paul Turpin who proposed a motion (see below) at a Sheffield Council meeting said,
“The South Yorkshire Pension Authority has a Responsible Investment Policy which states that it should ‘do no harm’, but it is clear that its investments in Israel are in direct contradiction with this policy.
“Over 46,000 people have been killed by Israel in Gaza, including at least 14,000 children. 90% of all homes have been destroyed, some by UK manufactured weapons.
“Amnesty International, UN Human Rights Watch and Medecins Sans Frontieres all say that Israel’s actions are consistent with genocide. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has an arrest warrant against him from the International Criminal Court.
“South Yorkshire Pensions Authority should amend its Responsible Investment Policy to explicitly add exclusions and a policy of divestment from states and companies committing or profiting from human rights abuses and breaches of International Law. They should publish their holdings in states involved in human rights abuses, companies which produce weapons and companies which produce fossil fuels.
“If we are really going to make the world a safer, more peaceful place then the financial choices that we make should be ones that protect our environment and oppose injustice and war.”
Notice of Motion Regarding “Opposing Sheffield Council Taxpayers Investments In Israel, Weapons Manufacturing and Fossil Fuels” – Given By Councillor Paul Turpin And To Be Seconded By Councillor Toby Mallinson
That this Council:-
(a) welcomes the ceasefire in Gaza but condemns Israel’s mass killing of civilians up until implementation of the deal;
notes:
(b) that over 46,000 people in Gaza, including 14,000 children, have been killed by Israel, and 90% of homes have been destroyed, with the help of UK-made weapons;
(c) the body of evidence and reports, including by Al Haq, Amnesty International, the UN, Human Rights Watch and Médecins Sans Frontières, saying Israel’s actions have been consistent with genocide;
(d) the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrest warrant for the Israeli Prime Minister;
(e) the International Court of Justice (ICJ) ruling that Israel must end its occupation of Palestinian territory immediately;
(f) that the South Yorkshire Pensions Authority (SYPA) maintains investments in Israel, weapons manufacturing companies, and fossil fuel companies, and believes this contradicts its Responsible Investment policy principle to “do no harm”;
(g) Sheffield residents campaigning for the Council and SYPA to end contracts and investments in Israel, weapons manufacturers and fossil fuel companies profiting from conflict;
believes:
(h) that war crimes must be investigated and perpetrators brought to justice;
(i) that only justice, equality and an end to occupation can bring peace;
(j) the UK Government’s military co-operation with Israel means it risks being complicit in war crimes, including genocide;
(k) stemming from obligations laid out by the ICJ, councils and Local Government Pension Schemes (LGPS) must avoid procuring from or investing the funds they manage, in companies that facilitate Israel’s breaches of international law, including arms companies producing weapons used by Israel, companies conducting business activities in the occupied territories, and financial institutions which finance these companies;
resolves to:
(l) demand the Government ends all arms trade with Israel; stops supporting its military campaigns in Palestine, Lebanon and Syria; and supports accountability at the ICJ and ICC;
(m) call on SYPA and the Border to Coast pension pool to oppose investments in Israel, arms companies and fossil fuel companies and for them to:-
(i) amend their Responsible Investment policies to add exclusions and a policy of divestment from states and companies committing or profiting from human rights abuses and breaches of international law;
(ii) clearly publish holdings in states involved in human rights abuses, companies which manufacture weapons, and companies which produce fossil fuels; and
(iii) conduct rigorous due diligence to ensure that its funds are not being invested to profit from human rights abuses or war crimes;
(n) ask the Chief Executive to forward a copy of this motion to the SYPA and Border to Coast Pensions Partnership; and
(o) ask the Finance and Performance Policy Committee to ensure that this Council’s Ethical Procurement policy is robust to prevent contracts being awarded to companies which finance states in breach of ICJ rulings, arms companies and fossil fuels.