Salem City Council approves even-handed resolution on crisis in Gaza

Way to go, Salem City Council.

You did the right thing in your meeting last night, passing a resolution on a 5-4 vote that calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza, along with calls for no more U.S. offensive aid to Israel until a ceasefire occurs, unrestricted humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza, the release of all hostages and detainees, a two-state solution where Palestinians and Israelis live in peace, and condemnation of antisemitism, anti-Palestinian anti-Arab bigotry, and Islamophobia.

The full resolution can be read here. I've also copied it in below.

I wish the resolution had passed unanimously. But a Salem Reporter story, "Salem city council passes alternative Gaza ceasefire resolution following hours of public testimony," says: 

Councilors Jose Gonzalez, Virginia Stapleton, Linda Nishioka and Trevor Philips joined Mayor Chris Hoy in voting to pass the Gaza resolution. Councilors Deanna Gwyn, Micki Varney, Julie Hoy, and Vanessa Nordyke voted against it.

Congratulations to Councilors Stapleton and Nishioka for drafting an alternative to the language proposed by the Human Rights Commission, which mentioned genocide by Israel in several places, and the resolution proposed by city staff which combined some of the Human Rights Commission language with similar resolutions passed by other Oregon cities. 
Download HRC Gaza Resolution Proposal
Download Resolution by City staff

I think the resolution passed last night is accurate, well-written, and reflects the intent of the Human Rights Commission language without the controversial inclusion of "genocide." There's good reason to call what Israel is doing to the Palestinian people genocide, but if not using that word in the resolution enabled it to pass by the narrow 5-4 vote, it was a wise decision to omit mention of genocide.

Here's the resolution which passed. It seems pleasingly even-handed to me. Both Israel and Hamas deserve a lot of criticism, and the resolution does just that. 

———————————————————————

RESOLUTION NO. 2024-__
A RESOLUTION ON THE CRISIS IN GAZA

WHEREAS, the City of Salem holds as a key value compassion and is committed to promoting
peace, unity, and respect for all its residents; and

WHEREAS, we recognize and stand in solidarity with our Muslim and Jewish communities,
reaffirming our commitment to their safety, security, and well-being; and

WHEREAS, Israeli and Palestinian citizens deserve to live their lives in peace, free from the
threat of violence; and

WHEREAS, we condemn Hamas’ terrorist attacks on Israeli citizens that took place on October
7, 2023 and tragically took the lives of over 1,200 and resulted in around 250 hostages; and

WHEREAS, the ongoing violence in Gaza has resulted in immense human suffering and loss of
life; and

WHEREAS, we share dire concerns with the atrocities in Gaza in which tens of thousands of
Palestinians have been killed and several thousand more are reported missing and presumed to be dead; and

WHEREAS, the people of Gaza face further devastation from displacement, the collapse of the
healthcare system, lack of food, water, sanitation, and other basic necessities, with over half a
million Gazans reported starving by the United Nations; and

WHEREAS, the use of civilian infrastructure by Hamas for military purposes further endangers
the lives of innocent Palestinians and exacerbates the humanitarian crisis in Gaza; and

WHEREAS, the Israeli government and Israel Defense Forces, through violence and blocking
humanitarian aid is acknowledged by the United Nations to be violating international law; and

WHEREAS, Salem residents’ federal taxpayer dollars have been used to fund military actions in Gaza; and

WHEREAS, we acknowledge the urgency of the situation and the imperative need for immediate action;

NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SALEM, OREGON
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. The City of Salem, Oregon calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire and end to the hostilities in the region which are causing a catastrophic loss of Palestinian life; and

Section 2. We call for no more U.S. aid be directed to Israel or the Israel Defense Forces, for
offensive military aid, until a permanent ceasefire is reached; and

Section 3. We insist on the immediate and unrestricted proliferation of humanitarian aid
commensurate with the multiple levels of socioeconomic collapse in Gaza; and

Section 4. We urge leaders to prioritize the safety and well-being of all hostages and detainees,
recognizing their right to freedom and immediate and unconditional release; and

Section 5. We extend our support to diplomatic efforts and initiatives aimed at facilitating a two-
state solution where Palestinians and Israelis can live in peace; and

Section 6. The City Council asks all members of Oregon’s Federal Delegation to use the
platform provided by their office to end these atrocities and to facilitate immediate and long-term peace here and around the globe; and

Section 7. We express our unwavering commitment to fostering peace and unity within the City
of Salem and representing the voices and concerns of all its residents; and

Section 8. We stand in solidarity with our Palestinian, Muslim, and Jewish communities,
affirming our commitment to their safety, security, and inclusion within the fabric of our city;
and

Section 9. We condemn and will not tolerate antisemitism, anti-Palestinian or anti-Arab bigotry,
Islamophobia, or any acts of bias or hate against Jewish, Muslim, or Palestinian residents of the City of Salem; and

Section 10. We express our sincere hope that the current conflict will be resolved swiftly and
peacefully, leading to a just and lasting peace, and that an immediate and permanent ceasefire is the first step in bringing about that process; and

Section 11. This resolution is effective upon adoption.
ADOPTED by the City Council this ____day of ______, 2024.
ATTEST:
City Recorder
Approved by City Attorney:
________________

Drafted by Councilors Nishioka and Stapleton