Speech for the Jewish Bloc

Last Thursday, activists and community groups from across Waltham Forest came to the Town Hall. Our coalition is called "A Fairer Waltham Forest". Overlooking us were half-built luxury apartment blocks, which will be unaffordable to most people in the borough. We spoke about housing, rents, closure of facilities for disabled people and public spaces. Running through the speeches was our joint commitment and solidarity with Palestine.

Why is there no money for social housing in your borough? Why are they cutting provision for Special Educational Needs or facilities for adults with learning disabilities? Why are they selling public green spaces to private developers?

And what has this to do with the genocide in Gaza?

Political choices have been made to starve local authorities of the funds they need to maintain essential services. Our council has a debt of £23 million. Instead our government has chosen to massively increase our defence budget. 

Those RAF surveillance flights on behalf of the Israeli army ARE an essential service!

But there is an even more direct link. In July 2024 our council agreed to divest its pension fund from arms trade investments. This multi-billion-pound pension fund is managed by the London Collective Investment Vehicle, which says “it has to remain politically neutral and consistent with messaging from central government”.

We know what that message is.

So – a proportion of our council taxes continues to fund the armaments industries. We’re paying for weapons that massacre people queuing for food in Gaza, and all the other bullets and bombs and drones in the countless other wars throughout the world.

Act locally.

In May, Brent council voted to approve a twinning agreement with the Palestinian city of Nablus. There was opposition from the usual suspects, with misrepresentations and untruths about the vibrant diverse city of Nablus. The Brent Jewish Network joined the Brent Nablus Twinning Association and met with the Council leader to congratulate them. If you live in Brent – get involved.

Friends. They don’t like our marches. Where we march; what we chant; our placards; peaceful acts of resistance. But they can’t stop us voting next May in the local elections or deciding what we buy in our shops

Think globally.

This week, young conscientious objectors in Tel Aviv publicly burned their conscription papers. One said: “The Jewish state that says it represents me wants to exterminate the people of Gaza. Never Again is now, for everyone!”

Free Palestine!