Statement on the Wales-wide campaign for Divestment

Jewish Voice for Liberation supports the campaign for local government pension schemes across the UK to divest from investments tainted by their connection to the oppression of the Palestinian people. We note that Wales is once again at the forefront of efforts to raise awareness of, and oppose, complicity in war crimes and genocide. In November 2023 Wales was the first nation whose Parliament passed a motion demanding a ceasefire. And Wales now leads the way in this campaign, with 11 of the 22 local authorities having passed Local Government Pension Scheme divestment motions.

Increasing numbers of council employees and elected members are publicly stating that they don’t want their pension contributions to fund the illegal occupation of Palestinian lands, the imposition of an internal apartheid system, and multiple violations of international humanitarian law. Israel has recognised no limits of law or morality in committing ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Israel falsely claims that their atrocious acts are carried out for ‘the Jewish people’.  No. Israel is a state (though one established on a land already occupied by another people). Jewishness is not a nationality. To be Jewish is to share an ethnic identity, and a wide and various culture which can include a range of religious observances. The barbarities of the Israeli state’s actions against the Palestinians (and others) are not done in our name. Increasing numbers of Jews world-wide repudiate them.

While our governments prevaricate many Jewish individuals and Jewish or Jewish-led organisations have found a practical way to express their support for Palestinian rights – by responding to the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions call by Palestinian civil society.

We at Jewish Voice for Liberation support the call coming from local government across Wales for their pension schemes to divest from investments implicated in any and all breaches of international law, international human rights violations, illegal occupations, apartheid and war crimes.