HomeMy WebLinkAbout010924 email Any Resolutions supporting a ceasefire in GazaALERT: BE CAUTIOUS This email originated outside the organization. Do not open attachments or click on links if you are not expecting them.
Dear City Council Members and Board of Commissioners:
I understand that in the recent past you have passed a Resolution in support of a ceasefire in Israel. Now, again, The Port Townsend City Council is considering another similar resolution.
I am dismayed that any local government would weigh in on an international issue like this one that is fraught with misinformation. You are in charge of local government - not international
affairs and I feel you should resist any effort to get dragged into the fray.
The past Resolution and this one now being considered by the City Council is so completely one-sided. However, I must admit, I sighed with relief to see the words "ceasefire" and "safe
return of all hostages" almost in the same sentence. The first resolution passed by both local governments made no mention of returning the hostages.
If you are going to call for a ceasefire, it must be on both sides. Hamas continues to send missiles into Israel. Their clearly stated goal is to destroy Israel and all Jews........the
very definition of genocide. Israel, on the other hand has expressly stated that it only wants to destroy Hamas as the government of Palestine.
One of the reasons so many innocents have become victims of Israel's military defense is that Hamas uses its citizens as shields. Instead of using its money to help its people, Hamas
builds tunnels and acquires weapons to destroy Israel.
As Randy Kessler, Regional Director of "Stand With Us Northwest" has already written........Instead of passing a one-sided resolution, please "pass a resolution to condemn antisemitism
and to formally adopt the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism <https://www.holocaustremembrance.com/resources/working-definitions-charters/working-definition-antisemitism> . This
will send a strong message of support, while also assisting law enforcement in determining if a crime had antisemitic intent or not. This is the definition used by the U.S. Departments
of State <https://www.state.gov/defining-antisemitism/> and Education <https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/qa-titleix-anti-semitism-20210119.pdf> , and has been adopted
or endorsed by the cities of Everett, Mill Creek, Tacoma, and Bellevue as well as Snohomish County <https://lynnwoodtimes.com/2023/01/18/antisemitism-definition-01182023/> . With antisemitic
acts up over 300% since October 7, the Jewish community in Jefferson County and the City of Port Townsend needs the support."
Please don't allow yourself to be misled by members of our community who spread misinformation or encourage you to adopt one-sided resolutions about international affairs.
Sincerely,
Diana Levin