Chants of “Free Palestine” rang out in the chambers of Birmingham City Council as officials celebrated a successful vote that could ban Israel-linked investments.
The city’s chamber erupted in raucous scenes as the motion passed this week by a landslide, 54 votes to 19.
Footage from the November 3 meeting shared online showed councillors leaping to their feet, chanting, cheering, applauding and raising fists as the vote passed.
The motion calls for a six-month examination of investments held by both the council and the West Midlands Pension Fund, with potential outcomes including engagement, exclusion or full divestment on human rights grounds.
Independent councillor Nosheen Khalid, who represents Alum Rock and serves as cabinet member for health and social care within the ruling coalition’s Better Birmingham group, brought the motion.
“Where money goes, responsibility follows,” she told fellow councillors.
“This is a day that residents should be proud of; it’s a day that we are certainly proud of, and it is one step closer to making the right decisions and the right choices for the people of Birmingham and the people beyond and the people of Palestine.”
Councillor Jamil Khan of Sparkbrook and Balsall Heath East seconded the proposal.
Their motion urged Europe’s biggest local authority to scrutinise its procurement, banking arrangements and commercial dealings for connections to companies allegedly involved in serious breaches of international law.
It also proposes writing to other local authorities on the West Midlands Pension Fund Pensions Committee to establish a cross-authority task group examining investment holdings.
Passing the bill does not mean an immediate withdrawal of funds connected to Israel; it endorses a formal process to scrutinise existing financial links and determine what steps might lawfully be taken.
The Campaign Against Antisemitism condemned the council’s decision as “certainly morally reprehensible”.