EASTON, Pa. — Another attempt at an Israel-Hamas ceasefire resolution was voted down at the Wednesday Easton City Council meeting, despite an additional showing of public support for the measure, drawing notable ire from the assembled crowd.
Councilmember Taiba Sultana reintroduced her Israel-Hamas ceasefire resolution during the meeting, though it failed to gain a second and died on the floor yet again.
However, despite Sultana’s vote against it, an advocacy for peace resolution backed by the remainder of the council did pass, despite public outcry for the ceasefire.
Sultana was particularly troubled by how the rest of the council assembled their resolution, in addition to the wording of the document which acknowledged some 45 conflicts — though Solicitor Joel Scheer later noted the number was much higher — leading to a series of discussions among members.
Sultana showed concern the document lacked any impact, and said, “If we are not able to identify the problem and offer a solution, this is just a piece of paper.”
Other members of the board, including Crystal Rose, noted the peace resolution was a stand against all war crimes and similar conduct in general, not just specific cases.
Public comment at the beginning and end of the meeting involved more than a dozen individuals coming up to speak on the ceasefire resolution, the majority of whom were in complete support of the measure.
Speakers explained their interpretation of the local impact of the Israel-Hamas war, including local taxes that went to support Israel, anti-Muslim rhetoric experienced both locally and throughout the country, and family and friends who had been killed or otherwise affected by the conflict.
Numerous speakers stuck around to comment at the end of the meeting to share similar experiences, leading to a lengthy session of citizens attempting to change council members' minds. Several speakers listed the names of Palestinian children killed in the conflict during their speaking time.
The advocacy for peace
The advocacy for peace resolution utilized a broader approach and read, “Whereas the City of Easton recognizes the inherent value of human life and the fundamental rights to peace and security. There are over 45 armed conflicts worldwide, resulting widespread suffering, displacement, and loss of life.”
Going on, the resolution notes armed conflicts and war crimes are “an egregious violation of human rights” which cause “immeasurable harm” to everyone, “it is incumbent upon all responsible parties, including governments, international organizations, and civil society, to work tirelessly toward the prevention and resolution of conflicts, and to hold perpetrators of war crimes accountable for their actions.”
After reaffirming a commitment to “promoting dialogue, diplomacy, and peaceful resolution of conflicts, both domestically and internationally,” the resolution acknowledges the right to protest as a means of advocating for peace and justice.
“Now therefore let it be resolved, that the City Council of Easton hereby condemns war crimes in the strongest terms possible. Be it further resolved, that the City Council expresses solidarity with all those affected by conflict and reaffirms its commitment to supporting efforts aimed at achieving lasting peace and justice,” the resolution’s conclusion reads.
“Be it further resolved, that the City Council encourages residents of Easton to exercise their right to peaceful protest and to advocate for an end to violence and conflict worldwide.”
A city's purview
Notably, the advocacy for peace resolution lacks any directive for the council to take any particular action.
Sultana’s resolution, as previously reported, calls on members of Congress to demand “an immediate permanent ceasefire; the release of all hostages; the unrestricted entry of humanitarian assistance into Gaza; the restoration of food, water, electricity, and medical supplies to Gaza; and the respect for the international law; and calls for a resolution that protects the security of all innocent civilians.”
The resolution directly urges Congresswoman Susan Wild, Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator John Fetterman, Senator Bob Casey, Representative Bob Freeman, and the Biden administration to call for and facilitate de-escalation and a permanent ceasefire in the region.
Panto and the other council members have made it clear in previous statements that such an action falls outside the purview of a city council, being they have no say in international affairs.
Countering that, Sultana has said her resolution was a necessity to show upper levels of government that the city and its residents were in support of a ceasefire, with hopes of persuading the federal government to take action.
Councilmembers Frank Pintabone and Rose — who were primarily responsible for drafting the advocacy for peace — said they wished to put the debate on the subject to bed and refocus their attention on matters that directly affected Easton and its citizens.
Pintabone said councilmembers have received over 700 emails regarding the ceasefire resolution introduced by Sultana, with most stating, “We didn’t elect you to handle international affairs.”
“What our resolution is saying, simply, is no, we're not in favor of baby killing. No, we're not in favor of war. We're not in favor and we don't support war. But you elect people who are in charge of international stuff, and that isn’t us,” Pintabone said.
Rose said she was inspired to write her resolution as the issue kept reappearing in council, and she had heard from councilmembers and residents that “they really wish council would get focused back on local issues."
“So I wanted to draft and introduce a resolution that addressed their concerns. At the end of the day, I feel that the issue is geopolitical, not local. I do think something needs to be said because I don't want to see it brought up again and again. So choosing to prioritize a world peace resolution, I feel, underscores a commitment to addressing the structural inequalities of political tensions and socioeconomic disparities that perpetrated conflicts worldwide,” Rose said, adding while “everyone has the right to make their voice heard,” city council needed to get back to matters like “affordable housing … food insecurity … a community center in the West Ward” and other domestic matters.
“Everything starts from ceasefire”
Prior to the meeting, Sultana said she hoped for more support from newly elected councilmembers Pintabone and Rose, especially in light of the increased death toll for civilians in Gaza, which has reached nearly 30,000 individuals as of Wednesday.
In response to the newly introduced resolution, Sultana categorized it as ineffective.
“If you're not calling for a ceasefire, then what kind of peace are you seeking, right? Because everything starts from a ceasefire. If they really want peace in the region, or in this world, you have to be calling for a ceasefire. For me, honestly, it's like a counter-resolution. It's not a peace resolution. It's a counter-resolution against my resolution, which is overly neutral, and, frankly, tone-deaf for a serious conflict,” Sultana said.
Sultana also said the taxes paid by Eastonians which go toward support for Israel could easily be viewed as a connection making the matter local in some capacity, an argument also raised by the Lehigh Valley Artists for a Free Palestine at a previous Easton council meeting.
She went on to explain her resolution was intended to reach out to other elected officials and share the concerns of the local citizens with them, in hopes that these sentiments would be passed up the line.
“As Mayor Panto said so many times, ‘state and local governments and federal governments work hand in hand.’ Yes, we do work hand in hand, and so let's address this issue as well,’ Sultana said.
Jewish Federation supports advocacy for peace
Ahead of the council meeting, the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley issued a release “vehemently” opposing Sultana’s resolution and “strongly” supporting the advocacy for peace resolution.
President of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Robert Wax offered detailed commentary on the Oct. 7 attacks justifying the organization’s position.
“On behalf of the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley and its 8,000 members across the Lehigh Valley, we urge Easton City Council to oppose the misguided and divisive resolution proposed by Councilwoman Sultana. The brutal atrocities on Oct. 7 awakened many to the depravity of Hamas, the ruthless terrorist organization controlling Gaza,” Wax said in a statement.
“More than 1,200 Israelis were savagely murdered, babies were burned and decapitated, women were raped, and 240 Israelis, Americans, and others were taken hostage. This was the most brutal attack on Jews since the Holocaust. Hamas leaders have threatened to repeat the onslaught of Oct. 7 to murder Jews and destroy Israel. Israeli citizens must be safe from terrorist attacks, which is why the Israeli military needs to continue the war in Gaza until Israel is certain a repeat attack is not possible. In addition, Hamas still holds over 100 hostages, including many women and children, and those hostages — including Americans — must be returned before the hostilities can end.”
Director for the Jewish Federation of the Lehigh Valley Aaron Gorodzinksky, who has appeared in person at Easton City Council meetings previously to protest Sultana’s ceasefire resolutions, also commented.
“We support the second resolution since Jews across the world pray for world peace constantly. In order for us to achieve this laudable goal, we need to prevent countries like Iran from funding international terrorist attacks, and we need to hold countries responsible for the horrific war crimes committed against American and Israeli citizens,” Gorodzinsky said in a statement.
