South San Francisco joins one of the few Bay Area cities and the second city in the county to pass a resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire and the protection of all innocent civilians and hostages in Israel and Palestine.
Residents have shown up for months, imploring the council to take up the item, citing the dire need to signal support for an end to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. While the majority of public commenters in prior meetings, as well as during the council meeting Wednesday, May 8, were in favor of such a resolution, some voiced disapproval, stating it would inflame antisemitic rhetoric in their communities, not to mention it was out of the local council’s purview.
In addition to an immediate, permanent cease-fire, the resolution also calls for the release of hostages, allowing humanitarian aid to Gaza and the protection of all innocent civilians in both Israel and Palestine.
Most councilmembers voted in favor of the resolution, with Councilmember Flor Nicolas abstaining, noting she did not want to set a precedent for the council to weigh in on foreign matters.
“We have to understand that the role of the local government does not include matters on which our nation speaks with one voice, and that is only through the federal government,” she said. “This is not the only conflict in the world. There are nine concurrent ones. In an ideal world, there is no pain, there is no war, there is no genocide. But we are very far from that.”
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Others, such as Councilmember Mark Nagales, stated his decision to support the resolution was a result of the conversations he’s had with constituents, both Jewish and Palestinian, over the last several months.
“There’s been questions about what’s the local connection … the stories of the Palestinian families have really affected me because all they want, from the conversations I’ve had, is for us to recognize the pain and trauma that they’ve been going through,” Nagales said. “Both sides want peace, they want aid to come in and they want the hostages to be released.”
The effort to advocate for such resolutions spread quickly starting at the end of last year. Foster City became one of the first cities in the county to discuss the matter, and other Peninsula cities, such as San Bruno and San Mateo, have faced pressure from constituents to make such declarations, although their councils also opted to pass on the matter.
East Palo Alto is the only other city in the county to pass such a cease-fire resolution, with other Bay Area cities such as San Francisco, Oakland and Richmond voting in favor of them over the last several months.
This just in from CNN, Hamas has released the hostages, turned over the weapons and Israel has agreed to a cease fire. CNN is crediting the So SF City council and the people of SO SF. Both Hamas and Israel felt the council's vote was poignant even though it came from the opposite side of world and from nobodies. Hamas terrorists and Israeli soldiers could be seen hugging in the streets and sharing candy
Not So Common, I think I heard about this. Along with dialogue about how SSF should pass a cease fire for Oakland and Chicago. Imagine their influence if this council is so effective on folks on the opposite side of the world. Is Metta World Peace next? BTW, I hear Hamas terrorists were telling Israeli soldiers which weapons were gifted to them from Biden’s weapons stash after Biden took two knees and bowed to the Taliban.
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(2) comments
This just in from CNN, Hamas has released the hostages, turned over the weapons and Israel has agreed to a cease fire. CNN is crediting the So SF City council and the people of SO SF. Both Hamas and Israel felt the council's vote was poignant even though it came from the opposite side of world and from nobodies. Hamas terrorists and Israeli soldiers could be seen hugging in the streets and sharing candy
Not So Common, I think I heard about this. Along with dialogue about how SSF should pass a cease fire for Oakland and Chicago. Imagine their influence if this council is so effective on folks on the opposite side of the world. Is Metta World Peace next? BTW, I hear Hamas terrorists were telling Israeli soldiers which weapons were gifted to them from Biden’s weapons stash after Biden took two knees and bowed to the Taliban.
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
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PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
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