Israeli-Palestinian conflict is returning to Alameda

Alameda is reigniting planned partnership with Palestinian village of Wadi Foquin; Fremont fighting words: Mayor has words with assemblymember, Councilmember calls former colleague a 'keyboard coward'

The Palestinian village of Wadi Foquin—population 1,300—will take center stage at a contentious Alameda City Council meeting next Tuesday.

☕️MORNING BUZZ

—Alameda is about to wade back into the contentious waters of the Israeli and Palestinian conflict at next Tuesday night’s council meeting.

The Alameda City Council will discuss signing a memorandum of understanding for create a Sister Cities partnership with Wadi Foquin, a Palestinian village in the West Bank.

The agenda item comes at a time when the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza remains a hot-button issue on several fronts.

A major push last year by activists supporting ceasefire resolutions in Gaza roiled several city councils in the county, including Alameda.

In January 2024, the Alameda City Council rejected Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft’s plan to send a letter of support for a ceasefire in the war.

Alameda City Council rejects mayor's Gaza letter

One councilmember believed the letter would further divide the community, another claimed it violated the city charter.

This is not the first time Alameda city leaders have attempted to forge a sister city relationship with Wadi Foquin.

In 2017, Wadi Foquin appeared on track to be added to Alameda’s growing list of sister city partnerships.

But some Alameda councilmembers pulled support after a representative from the Israeli Consulate in San Francisco called Wadi Foquin the “poster village of anti-Israeli propaganda.” (Read my 2017 story in Alameda Magazine.)

A pro-Palestinian activist speaking in support of a ceasefire resolution at an Alameda City Council meeting last year.

—More inside:

• Alameda is trying to disqualify former councilmember, who is now the attorney for business owner in contentious lease negotiations.

• Why Alameda and the owners of an Alameda Point winery have been in nasty lease negotiations since last May.

• Fremont mayor takes a swipe at local assemblymember.

• More Fremont fighting: Councilmember’s Tesla getting keyed receives no sympathy from his former colleague.

• Campaign finance data for Thursday.

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