A US Jewish councillor has faced aggressive opposition after he attempted to insert language to condemn Hamas’ atrocities on October 7 into a city council resolution about the war in Israel.
Councillors on Oakland City Council in California debated for six hours on a resolution demanding a cease-fire in the Gaza Strip.
Dan Kalb, a Jewish council member, put forward an amendment to the resolution that specifically condemned killings and hostage-taking by Hamas.
Speaking in the council chamber on Tuesday, he said: “Downplaying, or worse yet, rationalising the October 7 mass murder by Hamas as legitimate resistance is sad, ridiculous, and antithetical to promoting peace.”
But Kalb amendment faced opposition by a large number of anti-Israeli speakers. They ranged from advocates for Palestinian children to anti-Zionists.
John Reimann, who stood as a socialist candidate for Oakland mayor last year, compared Israel to a “wife beater” who complains when the wife fights back.
Oakland councillors debated the Israel-Hamas war for six hours (Photo: Oakland City Council)
Another woman said: “Calling Hamas a terrorist organisation is ridiculous, racist and plays into genocidal propaganda.”
One speaker said: “As an Arab, asking within this context to condemn Hamas is very anti-Arab racist” whilst another woman declared: “An amendment condemning Hamas is bald propaganda.”
One other speaker said: “There have not been beheadings of babies and raping. Israel murdered their own people on October 7th.”
Israel was also described as a “genocidal settler colonial state” that needs to be “completely dismantled” several times during the debate.
Meanwhile, Hamas was consistently described as a “resistance organisation” and “not a terrorist” one several times during the debate.
Kalb’s amendment to the resolution was rejected 6-2 by councillors. Overall, the resolution supporting a congressional resolution for a permanent ceasefire, along with the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza and a restoration of basic services, as well as "respect for international law" and the release of all hostages was approved 8-0 by councillors.
Council member Caroll Fife, who brought the initial resolution, said it went through four drafts and "intentionally attempted to depoliticise" the issue by "lifting up what we support and not what we condemn."
She said the issue of a cease-fire was "deeply, deeply concerning" to Oakland residents and called for a moment of silence for the lives lost on both sides of the conflict.
"I want Jewish children to live as much as I want Palestinian children to live," she added.
Rebecca Kaplan, a pro-Israel councillor, said she was deeply saddened by the “slurs and lies” against Israel and Jewish people.
WATCH: Last night's #Oakland City Council meeting was disturbing. The council chambers were plagued for hours with support for terrorists, #antisemitism, and denial of the October 7th attacks. The Jewish community in the Bay Area stands strong against hate, and we call on our… pic.twitter.com/9cbHcGFMAw
— JCRC Bay Area (@SFJCRC) November 28, 2023
Speaking after the debate, Tye Gregory, CEO of the Jewish Community Relations Council Bay Area, told the Jewish News of Northern California: “It was the most antisemitic room I have ever been in.”
Gregory also said he repeatedly heard people referencing “white Hitler” to describe Jews who condemn Hamas and heard others saying that “antisemitism isn’t real.”
Similar resolutions have passed in Detroit and two other cities in Michigan, where a large percentage of Arab Americans live, as well as in Atlanta; Akron, Ohio; Wilmington, Delaware; and Providence, Rhode Island.
