From:
To: City Counci
Subject: Ceasefire resolution
Date: Friday, February 16, 2024 11:19:36 AM
Good morning.
My name is David Saul, and I chair the Israel Action Committee for the B’nai Israel Jewish Center in Petaluma.
BIJC has been a part of this community for over 160 years and we have many members who are resident in Sebastopol.
Approximately 90% of our members are opposed to a ceasefire resolution, and we believe that reflects the broader Sonoma County Jewish Community. As you might imagine, ADL, JCRC and other large Jewish organizations are also opposed to such a resolution.
Reported acts of anti-Jewish hate and violence have increased approximately 400% since the October 7 massacre by the terrorist organization, Hamas.
Following adoption of a ceasefire resolution in San Francisco, Mayor Breed stated: “Since the Board of Supervisors introduced their Gaza ceasefire resolution, and certainly since they passed it last week, our City has been angrier, more divided, and less safe. Sadly, that may have been the point. Their exercise was never about bringing people together; it was about choosing a side. And while late amendments mitigated this, the damage was already done.” I wish to acknowledge that many of the advocates of a ceasefire resolution are motivated by concern over loss of life, and want all people to live in peace, as do we. However, the broader movement across the country to have local governments pass ceasefire resolutions aims to pressure our Federal government not only to call for a ceasefire, but also to end military and financial US aid to Israel. Ultimately, that leads to a very real existential threat to Israel and 50% of the world’s population of Jews (who number only 15 million people total). It also leads to a very real threat to the United States and democracy, generally.
Iran is funding an Islamic Jihadi war against democracy. It starts with attacking and calling for the destruction of Israel, but Islamic extremism has indicated that it has no intention of stopping there. As has been chanted in the Iranian parliament “Death to Israel. Death to the United States”. Israel is democracy’s first line of defense, under attack from literally the north (Hezbollah), South (Houthi), East (PIJ, etc) and West (Hamas), all funded by the Iranian oppressive theocracy.
We believe that the only way forward locally and globally is to focus on respectful dialogue, building consensus, and ensuring the security and dignity of all. We reject attempts to disrupt official government proceedings and ask that all people work together to focus on creating more understanding, listening, and non violent communications and actions.
We urge the City Council to not adopt the proposed resolution which is filled with anti-Israel and antisemitic propaganda (including “statistics” that have been published by Hamas and utilized in this resolution as though they are verified statements of fact).
We have engaged in several Sonoma County meetings with the advocates of a ceasefire resolution in an attempt to fashion language around peaceful coexistence both locally and internationally. We would welcome the opportunity to engage in the same exercise in Sebastopol, in an attempt to construct a resolution or statement that can promote peace and not hatred.
Thank you,
David Saul
(I am happy to provide further contact information to any member of the City Council who would like to speak further).