Council to invite Joe Biden to Derry and urge him to support Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign against Israel

A majority of councillors backed the move at the full Derry City & Strabane District Council meeting on Thursday.

Sinn Féin Councillor Christopher Jackson, said the incoming US President should be made aware of DC&SDC’s policy on Palestine.

“President Elect Joe Biden has previously declared his support for the Israeli state despite the human rights violations, despite continuous breaches of international law,” he noted. He said a proposal to invite Mr. Biden and Vice-President Elect Kamala Harris to the city should make clear the Council’s corporate support for the BDS movement.

Colr. Jackson proposed that, “in the correspondence we will object to his previous comments expressing unconditional support for the Israeli state despite its apartheid policy towards the Palestinian people living in the occupied territories.”

People Before Profit’s Eamon McCann, supporting Colr. Jackson’s motion, said: “He is absolutely right to draw attention to Joe Biden’s attitude towards the Middle East and in particular towards the rights of the Palestinian people. One of the most astonishing statements made by any US leader in recent times came from Mr. Biden who said America’s support for Israel was unconditional.”

The Council agreed to call on Mr. Biden to use his ‘new position to try to bring peace in the Middle East.’ An amendment by PBP’s Shaun Harkin further called on him to join the BDS campaign, to reverse Washington’s recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, and to ‘undo Donald’s Trump’s’ policies on a number of fronts.

DUP Alderman Ryan McCready opposed the move, stating: “It’s not a utopia here. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: concentrate on your ratepayers and get on with it.”

Emmet Doyle, of Aontú, said: “I understand the sentiments with regard to the Palestinian people but these motions are getting a bit ridiculous. It doesn’t amount to a hill of beans, I’m sure, what happens on Pennsylvania Avenue, what comes from this council.”

Colr. Jackson replied: “As a council we take a proud stance on national and international issues but we also proudly stand up for the citizens of the city and district and we are not going to make any apologies for that.”