Fremont approves anodyne statement on Gaza conflict

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Fremont Councilmember Desrie Campbell’s statement on the conflict in Gaza was approved by the council late Tuesday night.

FREMONT

—GAZA RESOLUTION—For months, the Fremont City Council has been inundated with strong opinions on both sides of the Israel-Gaza conflict.

—Tuesday night was no different with more than 70 public speakers, some urging the council to declare a permanent ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war, while others asserting the matter was not in the city’s purview.

—Fremont officials had hoped a statement calling for peace in the region would lower the temperature, but that remains to be seen.

—The statement penned by Councilmember Desrie Campbell does not mention a ceasefire, and generally urges for peace in both Israel and Gaza.

—When Councilmember Jenny Kassan asked Campbell to insert the phrase “permanent ceasefire” into the statement, she declined.

—“It would be hypocritical for me to take sides,” Campbell said, adding the additional language would further divide the community.

—“In some cases it is necessary to make divisive statements.” said Kassan, who is Jewish and was the only member of the council to vote against the statement on Tuesday night.

—Frustrated and angry, Mayor Lily Mei rejected the notion that Fremont directly funds any actions by Israel against Palestinian people in Gaza.

—Some in the audience accused the Fremont City Council of abetting the war in Gaza and starving children.

—“What we are saying is we are standing for peace,” Mei said. “I reject the idea of trying to divide our community.”

—Pro-Palestinian activists may yet renew efforts to challenge Fremont city officials to pass a ceasefire resolution.

—But the council may soon adopt a specific policy that will prohibit them from weighing-in on international matters.

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