The police were almost called to a council meeting in Reading in a commotion surrounding the war between Israeli forces and Islamic fighters in Gaza.
Drama at the full meeting of Reading Borough Council almost saw a member of the public ejected from the civic office chamber.
A woman in the public gallery wanted to ask some follow-up questions, but councillor Glenn Dennis (Labour, Kentwood), the Mayor of Reading replied public statements would not be possible.
After that, the woman was heard shouting “It’s a disgrace!”
Cllr Dennis said: “Could you conduct yourself in a civil way please?
“Could you exit the chamber right now please, otherwise we will have to call the police.”
Leaving the chamber, the woman said: “Shame on the lot of you!”
The commotion came after Rob White, the leader of the opposition, asked a question about the fragile peace in Gaza.
He referred to an interim ruling from the UN’s International Court of Justice (ICJ) ‘affirming there is plausible evidence Israel is committing genocidal acts against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip’.
Cllr White (Green, Park) said: “We all have a responsibility to stand with Palestinians in the face of such catastrophic violence and do everything in our power to bring such suffering to an end.
“From the obligations laid out by the ICJ, councils must avoid procuring from or investing the funds they manage, in companies that facilitate Israel’s breaches of international law.
He then called for a letter to be written to Prime Minister Sir Kier Starmer to push for a permanent ceasefire, the Berkshire Pension Fund to divest from companies “complicit in Israel’s attacks on Palestinians”, and for the council to oppose entering into contracts with such companies in future.
Liz Terry (Labour, Coley), the council leader, answered: “For me all killing is wrong and I stand with those families whose lives were torn apart by the events of 7th October 2023 and with those whose lives have been lost and devastated by the Israeli government’s response.”
She then argued that there is no need to write a letter to Sir Kier, stating the government is “already doing what it can” to bring about an end to the violence.
Cllr Terry clarified that the Berkshire Pension Fund -which pays pensions to the county’s local government staff – is managed by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead.
She then affirmed that the council is committed to investing only in countries deemed as “Free” by the global human rights monitor Freedom House.
This excludes investments in Russia, Communist China, India and Turkey, but allows investments in Israel, which has a 74/100 rating.
Back in 2022, the council invested in Qatar, which is ‘Not Free’ with a score of 25/100 according to Freedom House.
Replying to cllr Terry, Cllr White said: “Thank you for the answer, so just to clarify, is a summary of your answers no to a simple letter on Gaza, no to action on the Pension Fund and no to justice for Palestinians?”
Cllr Terry asked him to re-read the answer.
It was after this response that the woman started shouting. The exchanges took place at the full council meeting on Tuesday, January 28.
