Boston city councilor pulls Israel-Hamas cease-fire resolution: ‘May cause more division’

Citing the further “division” it could cause, a Jewish member of the Boston City Council withdrew a resolution that sought the body’s support for a negotiated cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas War.

Filed by City Councilor Benjamin Weber, the pulled resolution called for a “negotiated cease-fire by both the Netanyahu administration and Hamas, including return of all hostages currently being held by Hamas and immediate distribution of humanitarian aid to people living in Gaza.”

“It has come to my attention today that the language of the resolution I drafted may cause more division, which is the opposite of what I had hoped to do,” Weber said at a Wednesday City Council meeting.

“Out of respect to my Council colleagues and members of the Boston community, I withdraw this resolution today to have further conversations.”

Weber, when reached Tuesday night, said he was putting the final touches on a lengthy speech he planned to give at the following day’s meeting, explaining his rationale for the resolution, which he said was similar to measures passed by city councils in Cambridge, Somerville and Medford.

He delivered an abbreviated version of that speech Wednesday, mentioning that while he always felt a strong connection to Israel and its right to exist, which deepened upon watching reports of the Oct. 7 terrorist attack committed by Hamas, “being Jewish does not mean that I have to agree with everything that the Israeli government does.”

“I cannot ignore the pain and suffering of Palestininians in Gaza or Palestinian families living in Massachusetts who are watching the events in Gaza in horror too,” Weber said. “I thought that if I could speak to the different groups, even if I failed to come up with a resolution, I might at least start a dialogue.”

His prepared remarks, shared with the Herald, called for a “two-state solution” for Israel and Palestine.

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Weber said he left his initial conversations with Palestinian and Jewish community groups “hopeful.” He heard mainly positive feedback on Monday, when he filed the resolution, and the following day, but on Wednesday, he began hearing “concerning” feedback from both sides, who were critical of some of the language.

Speaking with the Herald, Weber said he was unsure if he would file a cease-fire resolution at a future date, saying that he would take a pass if he was unable to “reach consensus” from both sides of the issue. He withdrew the day’s resolution because he had been unable to do that, he said.

“I do think there is a large group of people in Boston who just want to see some pause in what’s happening in Gaza and the return of the hostages,” Weber said. “Hopefully I can put forward a resolution that shows we support that, and that doesn’t meet with the opposition from people in both camps.”

Two dueling resolutions related to the Israel-Hamas War came before the body in October, when they were hotly debated, but died after being referred to committee.

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