Activists are keeping up the pressure for their campaign pushing for the pension scheme for council workers in Berkshire to divest from Israel.
A large group of activists from the East Berkshire Palestine Solidarity Campaign were spotted in Reading town centre on Saturday, August 2.
The campaigners handed out leaflets and set up an information stall.
Activists also attended a meeting of Reading Borough Council’s policy committee, where they held up posters in a silent protest.
During the same week, the group held another silent protest at a meeting of Slough Borough Council.
The activists have been asking councils in Berkshire to stop investing their pension funds in firms that supply armaments to Israel.
A freedom of information request acquired by the campaign revealed that the pension fund has invested in BAE Systems PLC, Safran SA and GE Aerospace, companies which are used by the Israeli Defence Forces.
Oversight of the pension fund is conducted at the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead, where a task group has been established to review its Responsible Investment Policy.
Rachel Luxton, the chair of the East Berkshire Palestine Solidarity Campaign said: “They are just kicking the can down the road.
“Sixteen local councils have already decided to divest from companies aiding Israel’s oppression and commonly accepted genocide.
“The Berkshire Pension Fund dithers. Meanwhile Israeli troops gun down starving people trying to access food at distribution centres and Palestinian housing is being demolished.”
The ongoing campaign comes amid ongoing concern about the escalating conflict in the UK and globally.
The four bishops of the Church of England Diocese of Oxford released a statement calling for an immediate ceasefire.
They said: “As Bishops in the Diocese of Oxford we want to renew our call to the Church across the Diocese to pray urgently for peace in Gaza and Israel.
“Along with many others we call on Israel to cease immediately the appalling violence and withholding of aid inflicted on the people of Gaza and the escalating violence in the West Bank.
“The images of starvation, injury and death at the aid distribution points are terrible to witness and a stain on the whole world.
“We continue to call, as we have done previously, for the immediate release of the remaining hostages and for meaningful and effective negotiations in the region leading to a lasting peace.”
The statement was made by Steven Croft, the Bishop of Oxford, Gavin Collins, the Bishop of Dorchester, Mary Gregory, the Bishop of Reading
and Dave Bull, the Bishop of Buckingham.
Globally, France and Canada have plans to recognise Palestinian statehood.
Meanwhile, the 22-member Arab League has called for the radical Islamic terror group Hamas to disband and disarm.
The campaigners went to Reading council on July 21 and Slough Council on July 24.
