OPEN LETTER TO CAMDEN COUNCIL

Dear Camden Councillors

This is a call from local charity CADFA. We have often written to you about Camden's 20-year-old link to Abu Dis in Palestine. We write on behalf of our hundreds of members, thousands of supporters and in line, we know ,with millions of people across the world who are concerned, upset, indeed in agony when we see the horrors meted out daily on the people of Palestine. 

We feel their misery in mourning, displacement, sickness and terror right across Palestine.  The situation in Gaza is beyond belief, but in the West Bank and Jerusalem too, hundreds of people are being killed, houses demolished, infrastructure destroyed, hospitals besieged, planes used to bomb civilian areas, thousands taken with no trial and tortured in prison, schools suspended for a year...  Huge, racist violence is everywhere in Palestine.

This is a call on behalf of humanity and the hope we millions have had that the lovely words we were raised on had some meaning - human rights, equality, peace, justice, hope. 

This is a call for action that is within your power and that Camden has taken before. This is a reminder to you that words and tears are not enough- indeed any time delay costs lives of thousands and misery of millions. Last year, we asked you to call for a ceasefire -  in the days when that call was not yet used to delay and block a ceasefire.  Do not let Camden Council echo the delaying tactics of the western governments who use words about a ceasefire while they continue to provide arms to Israel. 

Remember Camden's proud history when it took clear sides against the apartheid in South Africa and for humanity. Remember all the things you have taught in your schools for equality, for decent behaviour to ither human beings, against colonialism, against racial hatred, against apartheid, against fascism. 

Remember there are concrete things that you can do and that the situation is more than urgent. 

Remember the words of the health workers who have borne witness to the agony, the killed health workers and journalists and artists and tens of thousands of ordinary people. ..

Remember this appalling agony continues daily with displacement, amputations, disease... It must stop, and there are things that we can do.  

Remember that ignoring resolutions and international law, the ICJ, the ICC, the UN affects us all. Think of what supporting this is teaching Camden's children.

Strengthen yourselves. You know this.conflict is not about religion.  You know many Muslims, many Chrisyians, many atheists and many Jews  support the call we are making. You know there is not only opinion in any one religion. Avoid the red herrings and concentrate on the words your mouth has uttered: equality, inclusion and human rights. 

This disgusting situation that stretches back decades before 7th October 2023 has to come to an end. All decent people and organisations - all councils too - must put their weight squarely on the side of decency and humanity. 

We call on you now - just as Camden did in the case of
 apartheid South Africa - to divest Camden pension funds from Israeli companies now.