Palestine Activist Takes Legal Action Against South London Council Over Israel-Linked Investments
Greenwich Council has conceded that a clause within its pension fund investment strategy was unlawful, according to the Public Interest Law Centre, which is representing a pro-Palestine activist in a significant legal challenge.
Campaigner Challenges Council's £60 Million Investments
Lubna Speitan, a British-Palestinian contemporary artist and activist who co-founded the Greenwich Palestine Alliance, has instigated legal action against the local authority. The challenge focuses on Greenwich Council's failure to divest more than £60 million in pension fund investments connected to companies with interests in Israel.
The council's concession relates specifically to a clause in its investment strategy that claimed it "cannot exclude investments in order to pursue boycotts, divestment and sanctions against foreign nations and UK defence industries." The Public Interest Law Centre, now handling the case, states this admission confirms the policy's illegality.
Activist's Personal Connection to the Cause
Ms Speitan expressed her deep personal motivation behind the legal action, stating: "For decades, I have watched helplessly as my Palestinian family and people have been subjected to constant attack, displacement, torture, and slaughter. It is sustained by the brutal Israeli apartheid state, a system funded in part by investments from our own local council through the Local Government Pension Scheme."
She added emphatically: "By maintaining these investments, Greenwich has been a participant in the genocide of our people and family. The council's concession that its policy was unlawful confirms what we have long argued: it always had the power to divest."
'Divesting from Genocide is Not Foreign Policy'
Addressing recent comments from Communities Secretary Steve Reed about councils avoiding foreign conflicts, Ms Speitan countered: "Divesting from genocide is not foreign policy, it is a fundamental duty to uphold law and basic morality for the communities you serve, rather than investing in injustice abroad."
She highlighted the historical precedent of UK councils divesting from apartheid South Africa, arguing: "We are simply demanding Greenwich apply those same principles to apartheid and genocidal Israel, without dilution. Our case has proven they can."
The activist concluded with a powerful message to councils nationwide: "This landmark concession shatters the myth of powerlessness. Councils can no longer hide behind unlawful policies. This sends an unambiguous message to every council across the UK: the false legal barriers are gone. You have the power to divest. You must now have the courage to do so."
Legal Perspective on Council Powers
Helen Mowatt, Legal Director at the Public Interest Law Centre, explained the broader implications: "For years, councils have wrongly claimed they lack the legal power to divest. Greenwich Council itself has operated this unlawful policy since at least 2020, without informing scheme members or the public that it knew the position was wrong until this legal challenge."
She emphasised: "Legally, councils can implement divestment, and this error in understanding must be widely disseminated - a point vital not only for investment panel members but also for community groups, grassroots campaigns, and activists."
Background of the Campaign and Council Response
Ms Speitan and the Greenwich Palestine Alliance have been campaigning since 2023 for the council to implement immediate, full, and permanent divestment from Israel. According to Palestine Solidarity Campaign data, Greenwich's pension fund holds over £61.8 million in companies with Israeli interests.
Following extensive lobbying, the council's Pension Panel agreed in December 2024 to explore investments in companies associated with human rights abuses or operating in occupied territories. However, campaigners argue subsequent policy changes represent a "substantially watered down commitment" that will have "no impact at all" on investment decisions.
Legal proceedings challenging the council's decisions were formally issued on November 25, 2025, with a High Court judge now considering whether to permit a judicial review.
Council's Position and Ongoing Consultation
In response to the legal challenge, Greenwich Council conceded that its Investment Strategy Statement contained an unlawful instruction regarding divestment from foreign nations. However, the authority denied this had any bearing on its decision not to divest specifically from Israel.
Pro-Palestine campaigners have strongly rejected this position as "disingenuous," arguing the council clearly relied on unlawful information that prevented full divestment from Israel.
The council is currently conducting a four-week consultation with employees regarding its draft Responsible Investment Policy. Greenwich Palestine Alliance is encouraging participation to "take a firm stance."
A Greenwich Council spokesperson stated: "We continue to share the deep concern about the ongoing situation in Gaza and Israel, where the devastating loss of life has been unimaginable. We are unable to comment any further due to ongoing legal proceedings, of which we await the outcome."
