BRIDGEPORT — The all-Democrat City Council Tuesday night called for the end of hostilities in the Middle East before an unusually packed audience, with many in the crowd signaling support for any Palestinian bystanders caught in the war between Israel and Hamas.
More specifically, council members voted 13 to 2 for a resolution urging US President Joseph Biden “to immediately call for and facilitate immediate de-escalation and a permanent cease-fire to urgently end the current violence in Gaza, Israel and the West Bank.”
The original wording, approved by a council subcommittee Dec. 26, was re-drafted twice Tuesday in hastily organized meetings between some local Islamic and Jewish community leaders after members of the latter group raised concerns to Mayor Joe Ganim and others about the original language.
Mayoral aide Thomas Gaudett told council members the goal was to settle on a message that unified, not divided, the community.
“The item is obviously controversial, especially within the Jewish community,” he said. “The mayor got some calls both in the office and personally.”
The resolution is non-binding, meaning it has no legal authority. The effort was spearheaded by freshman council member Jazmarie Melendez, who was elected in November.
City Councilwoman Maria Pereira opposed the resolution, arguing that the council has no business trying to involve itself in international affairs. The council should not be passing resolutions crafted by non-elected faith leaders, she said.
This is a developing story.