Content

The Labour Amendments to the Motion
were Carried
 
RESOLVED:
 
This Council
notes:
1. 
Across Hackney residents have been horrified by the violent
conflict in Israel and Palestine and are grief stricken at the loss
of lives, including thousands of children, following the terror
attack on Israel by Hamas on 7th October. Many, especially in
Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities, as well as those from other
communities of all faiths and none, are concerned for the safety of
friends, family and work colleagues in the region.
2. 
Previous conflicts in the region have been associated with
increases in
community tensions, Islamophobia,
antisemitism and hate crime in the
UK.
3. 
There has been a worrying rise in antisemitic and Islamophobic hate crime in Hackney since the terror
attacks by Hamas on Israelis on 7th October and the siege,
bombardment and ground invasion of Gaza.  Hackney stands against antisemitism, Islamophobia,
xenophobia and all forms of racism and hate crime, passing motions
to adopt the IHRA definition of antisemitism and the All-Party
Parliamentary Group on British Muslims definition of
Islamophobia.
4. 
That a range of international humanitarian organisations have been
calling for an urgent ceasefire on all sides and lasting peace in
the region and for a two-state solution.
5. 
That Hackney is twinned with Haifa city in Israel. Haifa is 160km
from the Gaza Strip.
6. 
The brilliant work by Council officers, faith and community groups
and
partners including the Community
Security Trust, Tell Mama, as well as
others, and the police across the
borough to hold our community together, provide solace for today
and hope for the future.
7. 
The vital and ongoing work undertaken by the Council with partners
to ensure the safety of our communities, which includes:
· 
The sending of a letter from the Mayor to the Prime Minister
expressing our concerns about the impact the conflict in the Middle
East is having on Hackney residents and community cohesion, calling
on the Government to: focus all efforts on bringing an immediate
cessation to hostilities in Israel and Palestine, including an
immediate and sustainable humanitarian ceasefire on all sides,
lasting peace in the region and a renewed peace process, the urgent
release of all hostages and provide central government funding to
support community cohesion and peace-making at a local level
· 
Increasing the number of council enforcement patrols and deploying
the council’s mobile CCTV van into vulnerable communities
· 
Meeting with the borough commander and continuing to work closely
with the police to support their work
· 
Co-hosting, with the police, community stalls around the borough as
part of national hate crime awareness week
· 
Responding swiftly to hate incidents, crimes and anti-social
behaviour
· 
Writing to faith leaders to express our support
· 
Reaching out to our Jewish and Muslim community partners in
particular to reiterate the work the Council is undertaking with
the police to keep the community safe
· 
Writing to all schools and education settings, including faith
schools, and offering ongoing security liaison, support, resource
and guidance
· 
Holding interfaith events.
 
This Council believes:
 
8. 
The truce at the end of November 2023 was a vital step towards
releasing hostages and the provision of humanitarian aid. There
must be an immediate cessation to hostilities in Israel and
Palestine, including an immediate and sustainable humanitarian
ceasefire on all sides. Humanitarian aid and basic services must be
immediately restored. All hostages must be immediately
released.
9. 
Peace, justice and reconciliation in the region is likely to have a
positive
impact on community cohesion
in Hackney.
10.There can be no place for hate
in our Borough. Hackney must be a safe place for those of all
faiths and nationalities. We will continue to support those whose
families and loved ones are caught up in this conflict. We must
also stand up for those who may be perceived by others, sometimes
because of assumptions regarding faith or race, to have links to
the region and as a result are suffering from prejudice and
discrimination; and as a Borough of Sanctuary we extend a special
welcome to those fleeing war and persecution.
 
This Council
resolves:
 
11.To continue to work with borough
partners to ensure safety for our Muslim and Jewish communities,
hold interfaith events regularly, and to be ready to welcome
refugees.
12.To continue to encourage
interfaith and community groups to apply for funding, like Local
Initiative Funding, to support community cohesion,
peace-making and celebrating
how Hackney fosters harmony between our diverse communities.
 
 
Proposed by: Deputy Mayor Guy
Nicholson
Seconded by: Cllr Ian
Rathbone