Council calls For Peace in Gaza

Date published: 05 February 2009

Rochdale Council has called upon the international community to intervene and stop what it described as a 'humanitarian disaster' that has developed in Gaza and Israel.

The request came from a Notice of Motion that was put forward at last night's meeting of full council and was backed with cross party support.

Councillor Mohammad Sharif, who proposed the motion, said: “We should be standing united and urge this Government to stop arming Israel. The fact is that weapons sold to Israel, manufactured in this country, have been used in this humanitarian disaster.

"People may ask what difference this Notice of Motion will make to the conflict. I believe that if every local authority takes this stand then the pressure on the Government will pay off. Mr Mayor we should protest against aggression wherever it takes place."

Leader of the Labour Party Councillor Colin Lambert said: “I welcome the work that has been done on this issue. We have been united in our stance and we all agree that extreme action will never bring peace. I have friends in different communities, with different religions and we all agree that together we can bring about the rejection of the use of these planes and the dropping of these bombs.”

Leader of the Conservatives, Councillor Ashley Dearnley said: “It is not often that I agree with our former Prime Minister Tony Blair but I would like to quote his words here today. He said ‘Israel did not want to go into Gaza and Hamas has to recognise Israel as a state for a peaceful outcome to this conflict'. I agree entirely with Mr Blair’s sentiments and he has done a good job so far in his new role. We all want to see a lasting peace in the area but this will only come once Hamas recognises Israel as a state.”

Councillor Zulf Ali said: “I am delighted that this council has put forward this motion that represents the concerns of many of our fellow Rochdalians.

"I want to see our nation take more of a leading role in crises such as these. I will push for our government to stop selling arms to Israel and I ask them to urge our fellow EU counterparts to do the same.”

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen was pleased with the actions of the Council and thanked Councillor Ali after he praised Mr Rowen's work on Gaza in his speech. “I am pleased to see that the strong lead I have taken on this issue has been recognised by the council and I thank Councillor Ali for his kind words," he said. "I will continue to pressure the International Criminal Court to instigate war crime proceedings against Israel.”