Eastern Sydney Greens councillors boycott vote condemning Hamas

Two Greens councillors were among a group who walked out of vote condemning Hamas and their brutal attacks in Israel at a Woollahra council meeting.

Exclusive: Two Greens councillors were among a group who walked out of a vote condemning Hamas and their brutal attacks in Israel at a Woollahra council meeting on Monday evening.

Woollahra mayor Richard Shields put forward a mayoral minute to a vote that the council stand with Israel and condemn the deadly attack by Hamas.

But when the motion went to a vote, Greens councillors Nicola Grieve, Matthew Robertson and Residents First councillor Harriet Price abruptly left the room without voting.

The political move has prompted calls from members of the Jewish community for the councillors to resign.

Many members of the Jewish community live in the eastern Sydney LGA.

Australian Jewish Association chief executive Robert Gregory called on the three councillors to resign.

Woollahra Mayor Richard Shields and Councillor Isabelle Shapiro raise the Israeli flag on top of the council chambers after three Greens councillors boycott vote.

“Their conduct is utterly reprehensible, they’re not fit to serve in an area Jews live,” he said.

“How can the Jewish community feel safe if their councillors do not support them.”

Councillor Harriet Price told The Daily Telegraph that despite walking out of the vote, she supported the motion.

“I support the mayoral minute and condemn the attack on the citizens of Israel by Hamas,” she said.

“I was disappointed that the minute did not recognise the impact of the conflict on all civilians, so I excused myself from the vote,”

In a joint statement, Councillors Grieve and Robertson said they were “appalled by the awful violence” and attacks on civilians.

“This war has brought pain and grief to so many. All perpetrators must be held to account for their actions in accordance with international law,” the statement sent.

Ms Grieve said there was no obligation to vote on a mayoral minute.

Woollahra mayor Richard Shields, who currently has family in Israel, said that a majority of the council voted to condemn the attacks by Hamas and are flying the Israeli flag over the council chambers.

“I don’t want to comment on the individual actions or views of my fellow councillors but I will say that the attack on Israel, and the unprecedented and abhorrent acts that we witnessed over the weekend, should be condemned by all,” he said.

“This is not a time for politics but a time to unite behind peace loving Israeli citizens and our community members that are currently in the area.”