Foster City rejects cease-fire resolution request

A lot of residents were opposed to such a resolution, including many from the Jewish community, claiming such a move at the local level would instill divisiveness within Foster City and only provoke inflammatory rhetoric and relations, including antisemitic views. Many held up signs that read in part “No Antisemitism, No Islamaphobia, No Divisiveness.”

Some, such as Daniel Kreindler, said in their comments to council that local elected leadership should not weigh in on such foreign policy issues.

“I see no benefits to Foster City, certainly none to anyone on the ground in the Middle East, with this proposal. However, there are several disadvantages. Passing such resolutions will create polarization, hatred, conflict and, yes, fear in our communities. As we’ve seen across the country, these resolutions empower Jew haters. Look no further than Oakland,” Kreindler said, citing the recent desecration of a Menorah at Lake Merritt during Hanukkah. 

Other residents said there are a lot of international divisions throughout the world — including Russia and Ukraine, or China and Taiwan — but local councils haven’t singled out those conflicts. One Foster City resident, who grew up in Israel and preferred to remain anonymous, said he would be opposed to a resolution even if it explicitly supported Israel, stating it would create more tension in a city that has been able to live peacefully together in the United States. 

But other attendees stated federal representatives are unresponsive and perhaps desensitized to the barrage of constituent pleas, and a bottom-up effort is the only way to apply more pressure on national leaders to address such a critical issue, and one in which Americans contribute directly with their tax dollars. 

“I understand asking, ‘what does Foster City have to do with foreign policy?’” Sage Wolfe, a San Francisco resident who works in Foster City, said. “But I’ve already written my congressmen, my senators. … I haven’t seen any action from my federal representatives, so I don’t know a better way to build grassroots support. I can’t feasibly go to Washington and do this, so this is the next best thing.”

Nadine Mansour, a Palestinian Christian with family in the West Bank, said speaking up locally is more accessible, and the more cities speak up, the harder it is for national leaders to ignore. 

“Some people say it’s symbolic, but we’re not just going to lay down because our representatives are not representing us,” she said. 

The council meeting lasted about seven hours, adjourning at approximately 1:15 a.m., with more than four hours of public comment surrounding the potential resolution. While no serious security incidents occurred, city officials interrupted the comment period multiple times to remind attendees to refrain from visual or audible gestures expressing support or opposition. A recess was initiated after one attendee did not heed council’s direction to stay on topic during his public comment. 

The meeting culminated with each councilmember sharing their perspective, with four of five opposed to placing the item on a future agenda. 

“You elected us to do the work of Foster City, and I don’t believe this request is that,” Vice Mayor Stacy Jimenez said to attendees. “I don’t feel like this is appropriate and in our purview, so, with that said, I’m not in favor of moving forward.”

Hindi, however, called on leaders and residents to ask themselves what they’ll tell their children and grandchildren when they ask what they did to stop Gaza’s “unspeakable bombardment.”

While many participants were satisfied with the council’s decision, Wolfe said he was disappointed, stating the majority of Americans favor a cease-fire, and every level of government has a responsibility to listen and amplify the voices most reflective of the public. 

City councils in San Mateo County have largely abstained from initiating such discussions, but some are feeling the pressure due to an onslaught of constituent requests to do so. Hundreds of residents sent emails and more than a dozen spoke in person during a Redwood City Council meeting imploring the council to pass a similar resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza Monday night. The speakers, including some from Palestinian descent, also argued the city has a duty to speak out on humanitarian crises regardless of where they may take place, especially when American tax dollars are involved. Some also noted hate against Jews, Muslims and Palestinians is on the rise including locally. No city officials responded to the comments Monday night. 

“While I feel the privilege of feeling safe at home in my diverse community, there is nowhere safe for the people — my people, the Palestinian people — in Gaza,” said Dina Wahbe, a Redwood City resident, Christian Palestinian and intensive care unit nurse. “There is nowhere safe because the hospitals, the churches, the mosques, the refugee centers and the places Israel tells them to go for safety are still being targeted and bombed.”

San Bruno could decide in January whether to add a resolution to a future council meeting at the request of the city’s residents. Richmond and Oakland have passed resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. 

Sierra Lopez contributed to this report.