EASTON, Pa. — A letter of support from an Israeli politician evoked a strong reaction from an Easton councilwoman on Wednesday, but only after the meeting at which it was read.
During the public comment part of the meeting, longtime Easton resident Arthur Ravitz presented a copy of a letter addressed to Mayor Sal Panto Jr. from Shay Reichner, the head of the Regional Council Nahal Sorek, Israel — part of the Central District of Israel — on Jan. 24, thanking Panto for his “uncompromising support of Israel.”
Ravitz read to council the entire correspondence, a response to messages conveyed by Ravitz to Reichner expressing support for Israel, before giving a copy to each council member.
“I cherish the fact that you stand firmly by our side, in our right to defend ourselves from the terrorist organizations like Hamas that are trying to harm us. We know that we must protect ourselves, and it is important to us to have allies in the world who agree with our right of self-defense.”Shay Reichner, head of the Regional Council Nahal Sorek, Israel
“In October, council decided not to discuss two resolutions proposed about a cease-fire in the Middle East," Ravitz said before reading the letter.
"Shortly after that, I decided to go to Israel, and I visited my four kids and seven grandchildren there. And the second week I was there, I met the mayor of the town where my son lives.
"And he asked me, and I explained to him what the city council did to basically not put the onus on Israel for the invasion of Israel.
"So he said he'd like to have council's name and the mayor's name because he wanted to write a letter of thanks.”
'Beyond our purview'
In the letter's second paragraph, Reichner thanks Panto and council for “recent steps you have taken with the Easton City Council that show continued backing during the difficult period of war that Israel currently finds itself in.”
“I cherish the fact that you stand firmly by our side, in our right to defend ourselves from the terrorist organizations like Hamas that are trying to harm us. We know that we must protect ourselves, and it is important to us to have allies in the world who agree with our right of self-defense.”
As Ravitz handed out copies of the letter, Councilwoman Taiba Sultana — who twice introduced Israel-Hamas cease-fire resolutions to council that failed to pass — asked Ravitz about his trip, and if he had an opportunity to visit Gaza while in the region.
Ravitz responded it was too dangerous, whereas Israel was relatively safe as “the rockets [from Hamas] only go so far.”
No other council member spoke on the matter during the meeting.
Panto clarified that city council did not “take sides” in the conflict, as it “is beyond our purview.”
“My opposition to the cease-fire resolutionwas it had no place and no bearing in the city," Panto said, a tone of reticence about the letter. "It had nothing to do with being pro-Israeli or anti-Gaza.
"I don't know enough about the war to know who's right or who's wrong. I do know that Hamas attacked [Israel], and Israel has a right to defend itself, without a doubt.”
'Wish he would have gone to Gaza'
After the meeting, Sultana said nearly 2 million people have been displaced due to the conflict in Gaza, with recent reports of more than 100,000 people dead, wounded, or missing.
Survivors are left with little to nothing to return to when the war ends, she said.
She said she could not see an issue with her Israel-Hamas cease-fire resolution, which was rejected by council twice in the fall.
Sultana said the letter Ravitz presented was “absolutely inappropriate.
“I wish he would have gone to Gaza,” she said. “This is not a war. It's a genocide and ethnic cleansing. War happens between the two forces. Palestine has no army no weapons and no soldiers.
"On the other hand, Israel has a military power. On top of that [the] USA gave $14 billion in aid to support the genocide.”
Sultana also raised questions about Easton’s position to stay out of international affairs as it fell outside their purview.
“In a concerning development, city council members declined to vote on my proposed cease-fire resolution, stating that it was not within their jurisdiction," she said.
"However, they did accept a letter of support for Israel that was sent from Israel. This decision has raised questions about the council's stance on the issue.”
