When a city takes a side
What happens when a city declares support for Israel? Or passes a resolution for a cease-fire?
As tensions over the Israel-Hamas war continue to divide American communities, the Paste BN Network has covered a number of U.S. cities that have publicly supported one side of the conflict. But experts say these expressions of support can come at the expense of solidarity and cause further division. In one such case, Palestinians in Wayne, New Jersey, demanded the Township Council call for a cease-fire in Gaza less than a month after the council supported a resolution backing Israel in the war.
Maimoon Mustafa, an attorney and the first speaker at a Wayne city council meeting this week to discuss the call for a cease-fire, said he was “embarrassed” and “outraged” when he heard that the council moved to support Israel.
Palestinian residents and the council are preparing a resolution which will be up for a vote next month. But council leadership hasn't been clear whether the new measure would specifically call for a cease-fire in Gaza.