• WHERE does Camden invests its pension funds?

Despite Camden Council having an ethical pension fund investment policy it seems that, nonetheless, it has investments in companies that aid Israel’s breaches of international law, including ones listed on the United Nations Human Rights’ Office’s list of local government pension scheme investments in companies active in illegal Israeli settlements.

Camden has invested some £27,939,700 of its employees’ pension funds in a considerable number of these questionable companies.

In April 2020 the Palestine Solidarity Campaign defeated the UK government in the Supreme Court, which ruled it was legal for local authorities to divest from companies involved in supporting violations of international law and human rights.

We therefore urge you to contact Camden Council to insist it divests its funds from unethical investments fuelling an illegal and inhumane occupation of Palestine.

According to the Human Rights Watch report: A Threshold Crossed, published on April 27 this year:

“At a minimum, businesses should cease activities that directly contribute to the commission of the crimes of apartheid and persecution”.

Furthermore this report states:

“On the basis of its research, Human Rights Watch concludes that the Israeli government has demonstrated an intent to maintain the domination of Jewish Israelis over Palestinians across Israel and the [Occupied Palestinian Territory].

“In the OPT, including East Jerusalem, that intent has been coupled with systematic oppression of Palestinians and inhumane acts committed against them.

“When these three elements occur together, they amount to the crime of apartheid.”

The boycott movement here in England against South African goods, played an important part in ending apartheid and there was global euphoria when it was finally achieved.

We urge you to do the same in this case thereby helping the people of Palestine towards a more just, dignified and equal existence on the land they once inhabited peacefully with Jews and Christians.

SABBY SAGALL, Chair
HELENA AKSENTIJEVIC, Branch Secretary
LUCA SALICE, Press Officer
GEOFF LEE, Treasurer
SUE CAMPBELL, JANET GREEN, GARETH MURPHY, OWEN HOLLAND, STEPHEN KAPOS, UNA DOYLE, ROGER HIGGINSON, PAUL O’BRIEN, ROBERT BOYCE
Camden Palestine Solidarity Campaign