Pressure forces Marrickville backflip

DESPITE electing not to go ahead with a boycott against Israel, Marrickville Council endorsed a one-sided resolution calling for the protection of Palestinian rights on Tuesday night.

After heavy pressure from the Foreign Minister Kevin Rudd, NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell and Greens leader Bob Brown to dump the proposal, councillors voted 8-4 not to pursue the Boycotts, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) policy introduced last December “in any shape or form”. A mayoral minute to support BDS in principle was also rejected.

Among those who continued supporting the resolution was mayor and failed Greens candidate for Marrickville Fiona Byrne.

But the inner-city council went down swinging, with the wording of the agreed-to motion stating that the council “Remains concerned about Palestinian human rights and calls on Israel to end the occupation of all Arab lands and dismantle the wall; ensure the fundamental rights of Palestinians to full equality; and respect, protect and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees to return to their homes and properties.”

The international BDS campaign calls for Israel to comply with identical stipulations.

The vigorous debate in the Marrickville Council chambers had to be paused several times during the evening due to disruptions as sections of the gallery erupted with either applause or jeers depending on the speaker at the time.

Several members of the public had to be ejected, with one Palestinian activist escorted out of the chamber.

The meeting followed last week’s revelation that implementing the BDS resolution could cost the council in excess of $3.7 million.

In response, O’Farrell wrote to Councillor Byrne, threatening the State Government would “consider the range of options available to it” to bring the council back into line.

GARETH NARUNSKY

Anti-BDS graffiti in Marrickville

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