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SALT LAKE CITY — With no seeming end in sight in the Israel-Hamas war, the Salt Lake City Council approved a resolution calling for peace, delicately inserting itself into the international conflict.
As fighting continues, numerous U.S. cities have debated whether to take a stand in the conflict, many calling for a cease-fire in the war, according to Reuters. The news agency analyzed the stands and action U.S. locales have taken, finding as of early February that at least 48 cities had passed nonbinding resolutions calling for an end to Israel's military action in Gaza, including Chicago, Seattle and Detroit.
Salt Lake City officials took a more neutral approach, making a broad call for peace and saying city leadership "values Arab, Israeli, Jewish, Muslim and Palestinian residents and condemns the rise of antisemitism and Islamophobia." City Council members unanimously approved the resolution — which prompted a broad range of responses, notably sharp criticism — at a meeting Tuesday.
The resolution laments "the terrible loss of life," urges U.S. and international leaders to search for "lasting peace" in the Middle East and says city leaders' aim is to be welcoming to all. "We are committed to being a safe and welcoming place for all, regardless of race, ethnicity, creed, orientation, gender identity or expression, and wholeheartedly uphold the rights of every individual to live, worship and demonstrate peacefully," reads the resolution.
Advocates for Palestine in Salt Lake City had pushed city leaders hard for a resolution calling for a cease-fire in several City Council meetings leading up to Tuesday. More than 200 pro-Palestine demonstrators blocked a Salt Lake intersection last week to protest the Israeli response in Gaza, which has its roots in the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas extremists based in Gaza into neighboring Israel.
Accordingly, many of the pro-Palestine activists expressed disappointment with the resolution during the public comment portion of Tuesday's City Council meeting, some berating the local officials. Many were wearing keffiyeh scarves, an emblem of solidarity with Palestine, according to Reuters.
"I suppose I appreciate the consideration of a resolution. However, your gutted version of a resolution meant to simply appease the people in this room is terrible, does absolutely nothing to help the situation and is insulting," said Rodney Roberts.
Maya Skurnik expressed appreciation for the resolution as a means of recognizing the impact of the war on innocent people and promoting peace. Her sister survived the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas, a militant group operating out of Gaza that's been designated a terrorist organization by the U.S. State Department, However, she took issue with some of the calls for a cease-fire put forth by some advocates for Palestine.
"Peace and safety are what we strive and wish for. But unfortunately, recent calls for a cease-fire that were made in front of this council and fail to address the right of Israeli civilians to live in safety and that left out entirely the hostages in the Oct. 7 massacre do not contribute to or promote peace whatsoever," she said.
The City Council took comments from the public on the matter for about three hours. There was a mix of speakers, most voicing support for a call for a cease-fire in military action and criticizing Israel.
