Some Jewish residents of Richmond, California say they feel appalled and unsafe after the City Council passed a resolution condemning Israel for its actions in Gaza and accusing the Jewish state of ethnic cleansing.
Israel is at war with the terrorist group Hamas, which controls the Gaza strip. The latest conflict was instigated on Oct. 7 when Hamas militants breached the border with Israel, butchering 1,400 civilians and kidnapping hundreds more.
Incredibly, the original resolution made no mention of the Oct. 7 attack or its victims, some of whom were Americans. Last-minute amendments were made, acknowledging the killing of Israeli civilians by Hamas. Those amendments were requested by Councilmember Cesar Zepeda, who cast the lone “no” vote against the resolution. Zepeda said he supports Palestinian freedom, but felt the document was divisive.
Richmond is the first city in the nation to formally condemn Israel for the war. A number of public officials have lamented the enormous suffering of Palestinians and the loss of innocent Palestinian lives. But Richmond’s document stands out for its inflammatory rhetoric, including accusing Israel of war crimes and “apartheid."
“Today, I’m ashamed of my city,” one Jewish resident told the Council. “And I’m afraid and I’m scared, and you have put me in this situation… the double-standard that you wish to judge Israel by is irresponsible, immoral, and the reason antisemitism is rising in this country.”
Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia and El Cerrito Mayor Pro Tempore Tessa Rudnick also condemned the resolution.
Other speakers said they were proud of Richmond’s “courageous” stance. They hope more cities will follow.
“It’s not a Hamas issue. It’s an occupation. And we have had enough of [Israel's] occupation,” one woman in support of the resolution said.