Opponents of Council Cease-Fire Resolution Say Approval Could Fuel Hate Towards Jewish People

In correspondence to the City, some Jewish residents across Los Angeles County say a City Council resolution supporting a cease-fire in Gaza could lead to problems for local Jewish residents.

The Council is scheduled to address the conflict in the Middle East in a special meeting at the Convention Center on Monday.

“I want an end to the fighting and suffering in Gaza and Israel, as I’m sure you do,” said Nicole Taban. “However, biased ‘cease-fire’ city council resolutions have been shown to have no impact on this complex conflict. In fact, what the Jewish community has witnessed is that resolutions like this actually fuel more hate towards Jews and anyone else who does not believe cities should weigh in on international issues. There are many examples of such hate, including in the Oakland and Long Beach city councils.”

Taban signed off on a form letter signed by several other people that opposes a cease-fire resolution.

There are four motions on the table for Council consideration on Monday:

1. One would allow the City Council to abstain from taking an official position on the Middle East conflict. 
2. One would be to adopt a policy prohibiting the City from taking official positions on any political or social issues not directly related to local matters. 
3. One would adopt a resolution that establishes an official position on the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. 
4. One would allow the taking of any other action as determined by the City Council during the meeting.

Ample security will be provided at the meeting, officials said.

Dozens of cities across the country, including four in California, have passed resolutions calling for a Gaza cease-fire since the Israel-Hamas conflict began in October. 

But in calling for resolutions promoting peace, supporters at times have become disruptive. 

In December, the Santa Ana City Council was forced to clear the room after supporters for a cease-fire became unruly. The Ralph M. Brown Act, California’s open meeting law allows elected officials to clear the room when a meeting’s decorum cannot be restored so the business portion of that meeting can be conducted.

Last Monday, advocates for a cease-fire packed the Council chamber and demanded City Council members vote on a resolution supporting a cease-fire in Gaza as soon as possible. The City Council agreed to bring the item forth this Monday.

However, Jewish residents opposing such a resolution have not been in evidence during Council proceedings so far and began having their say late last week.

The Chabad of Pasadena Rabbis met with “prominent City officials and expressed their concerns over a City resolution calling for a cease-fire in Israel.” 

“The Rabbis at Chabad of Pasadena and Jason Moss, executive director of the Jewish Federation of the San Gabriel and Pomona Valleys had a meeting this morning with a number of prominent City officials,” according to a statement released on Thursday. “We unequivocally expressed our concerns and anticipation for a denial of this resolution.” 

In the update, the rabbis said that passing the resolution would open a Pandora’s box for future damaging resolutions. 

In a guest opinion piece published by Pasadena Now, Moss said resolutions supporting a cease-fire do more harm than good. 

“Not only do they infer Israel is the root cause of all of the death and destruction in Gaza, they imply that Israel has no interest in peace,” Moss said. “Resolutions like this do not account for the fact that if Hamas immediately returned all of the hostages they stole on October 7; the death and destruction would end. Nor do they demand that Hamas stop its actions from preventing the humanitarian aid from reaching the people in Gaza who so desperately need it. These resolutions also tend not to mention that it was Hamas that broke an existing cease-fire on October 6 when they attacked Israel on October 7.” 

If the City Council adopts a resolution supporting a cease-fire or taking any position on the Middle East, it would be symbolic, as the City Council has no say in world affairs.

As of January, at least 48 cities had passed symbolic resolutions calling for a halt to Israel’s Gaza bombardment, with six others passing resolutions advocating more broadly for peace. 

According to Reuters, in total, 20 other cities passed resolutions condemning Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. 

The City Council could also pass a broad resolution that would condemn war and hate. 

Israel bombarded and invaded Gaza shortly after an Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants in which 1,200 Israelis died and hundreds of hostages were kidnapped. 

Israel retaliated with bombing campaigns and an invasion of Gaza.

According to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is an agency in the Hamas-controlled government, the death toll in Gaza during the Israeli-Gaza war reached 31,112 as of March 11.

This figure includes both combatants and civilians, with the Ministry reporting that women and children make up two-thirds of the dead. The Israeli military has claimed to have killed 13,000 Hamas fighters.

“The type of “cease-fire” you are being pressured to support would not bring a just or lasting peace,” the form letter Taban signed off on said. “What it would do is help Hamas, a genocidal terrorist group, maintain its grip on power in Gaza and continue its endless war against Israel. While I do not believe municipal governments should address international affairs at all, if you choose to adopt a resolution on this issue it must include a clear call for Hamas to release all hostages and surrender now. I know that the Pasadena City Council wants to do the right thing and bring about an end to the humanitarian crisis, but this symbolic gesture will do nothing more than bring more hate and animosity towards the Jewish community.”

For more see:  City Council Agrees to Vote on Resolution Supporting Ceasefire in Gaza