Maribyrnong City Council demands Israel ceasefire

A second Melbourne council has demanded a ceasefire in Gaza, with a councillor saying it was legitimate for local councils to weigh into international conflicts thousands of kilometres away.

Another suburban Melbourne council has been slammed by the Anti-Defamation Commission for debating an inflammatory motion on the conflict in Gaza.

The Maribyrnong City Council motion — from Councillor Jorge Jorquera, who is a member of the Victorian Socialists — calls for the local council to “strongly condemn the war crimes being carried out by Israel against the Palestinians in Gaza” and “call(s) for an immediate ceasefire and end to Israel’s indiscriminate bombing.”

It also requests the council’s management review its contracts and cancel any with links to companies “that support Israel’s illegal occupation of Palestine or profit from it, especially companies which supply equipment to the Israeli Defence Force.”

The controversial motion was passed by four votes to three at Maribyrnong’s council meeting on Tuesday night.

When the result of the vote was read out, the public gallery started chanting “free Palestine”.

Anti-Defamation Commission chair Dr Dvir Abramovich said the motion was shameful and divisive.

“This (motion) presents a one-sided and grossly distorted picture of the current conflict, laying all the blame at Israel’s feet and excusing the evil of Hamas.

Smoke rises above houses during Israeli bombing on Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Picture: AFP

“This divisive (motion) will only push apart local communities and will send a painful message to Jewish people living in the area that they cannot count on some councillors to stand up for them and represent their concerns.”

Similar to the recent motion debated at Merri-bek City Council, the motion at Maribyrnong also calls for the Australian Government to “end all military, economic, political and diplomatic ties with the state of Israel until it complies with its obligations under international law.”

Mr Jorquera said that it was legitimate for a local government to enter the debate over this international conflict thousands of kilometres away.

Maribyrnong councillor Jorge Jorquera. Picture: Supplied

“Our local government has a tradition of taking a stand for human rights and in support of peace,” he said.

“As a City we are also aware of the global connections that make Maribyrnong particularly special, with so many migrant communities, represented by 82 different languages and a rich historical tapestry.

“Many (in) our community have lived and have family still living in worn-torn homelands, and have experienced ethnic cleansing and genocidal wars, such as Palestine is once again suffering.”

Maribyrnong covers areas in the inner-west such as Footscray, Seddon and Yarraville.

Dr Abramovich said the push to get the local council to be part of the boycott, divestment and sanction movement against Israel was “immoral” and would “only foment an atmosphere of hostility against the Jewish community and anyone who supports Israel”.

“At a time of a surge of anti-Semitism in our nation, when young Jews are being harassed and victimised for simply being Jewish or because of their association with Israel, this hatchet job is the last thing we need,” he said.