We demand that the Northern Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), Formerly known as 'Northern Pool' (a partnership between Greater Manchester Pension Fund, Merseyside Pension Fund, West Yorkshire Pension Fund)  follow through on their ethical commitments and divest from all companies that operate in the Occupied Palestinian Territories.
 
Research published by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign has uncovered LGPS funds collectively hold at least £4.4bn in companies complicit in Israel’s grave breaches of international law and Palestinian human rights.
 
All three funds in the Northern LGPS invest in Caterpillar, who produce the bulldozers used to demolish homes, schools, water pipes and other key infrastructure, in order to make way for illegal settlements. All three funds invest in arms companies that provide Israel with the means to attack Gaza, and suppress the Palestinians in the West Bank and East Jerusalem. All three funds invest in companies listed by the United Nations as complicit in Israel’s illegal under international law occupation of Palestinian territories.
 
These funds are administered by local councils – your councillors! For members of local government pension schemes it is your deferred wages! Demand divestment and ethical investment strategies now!
 
For more information and details on how to write to your councillors to demand divestment go to https://lgpsdivest.org

Manchester Palestine Solidarity Campaign, Liverpool Friends of Palestine, LGPS Divest West Yorkshire.