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Blue city sparks backlash after passing Israel Solidarity Resolution: ‘Free, free Palestine!’

October 14, 2023 | | Print Article

The Chicago City Council faced backlash from pro-Palestinian activists on Friday for passing a pro-Israel solidarity resolution.

The resolution was introduced by the Chicago City Council’s lone Jewish member, Far North Side Alderwoman Debra Silverstein. But its introduction prompted immediate backlash, with pro-Palestinian protesters in the gallery erupting into “free Palestine” chants, according to local station WLS.

“I don’t see this resolution being proposed in good faith of actually pushing for peace,” one protester, Josue Sican, told the station.

At least one alderman, Rosanna Rodriguez-Sanchez, sided with the protesters.

“If we are against violence, we are against all kinds of violence and we need to be in solidarity with our Palestinian brothers and sisters as well. That’s not what this resolution says or does,” she said.

“Although I wholeheartedly agree that the attacks from Hamas are brutal and that no one should be subjected to that violence, I also understand that the situation is more nuanced than what this resolution expresses,” she added.

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Some of the pro-Palestinian protesters simply wanted the resolution to declare solidarity with both the Israeli people and the Palestinian people. But there were some far more radical pro-Palestinian protesters who went so far as to defend the terrorist group Hamas and accuse Israel of smearing them.

“Are civilians being killed? Yes, civilians are being killed. No one denies that. Is that the intent? No, I honestly do not believe that is the intent. I really think Israel is attempting to go after Hamas,” one such radical, Rabbi Michael Balinski, said.

Last Saturday, the terrorist group invaded Israel and butchered over 1,000 innocent Israeli men, women, and children. They also took 150+ Israelis hostage.

The Israel Solidarity Resolution, as it’s called, says the city will “condemn this heinous terrorist attack by Hamas, stand in support of Israel, express our deepest sorrow for all innocent civilians, and pray for the safe release of all the hostages taken into Gaza.”

“Hamas terrorists kidnapped dozens of innocent civilians, including women, children, and infants, from Israel and forced them across the border into Gaza to be used as human shields and bargaining chips in the furtherance of future attacks,” the resolution continues.

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“Israel, like any other sovereign nation, has the right and the obligation to protect its citizens against terrorism and attack by hostile foreign powers,” it concludes.

Most of the aldermen supported the resolution, including Alderman Raymond Lopez.

“Too many in here and out have worked to manufacture a narrative and blame the victim of terror as being responsible for what has unfolded. Would any of us… would try to legitimize attacks on our own country following 9/11? Would we have given excuse or safe harbor or an apology to Osama bin Laden for killing nearly 3,000 Americans?” he said.

The resolution ultimately passed, but only after Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson had to clear the Chicago City Council chambers of all protesters.

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“At one point, Mayor Brandon Johnson ordered the sergeant-at-arms to remove everyone on the second floor of the council chambers after the protesters kept interrupting the city clerk as she read the proposed resolution,” Fox News notes.

“They began protesting in the lobby. Some protesters chanted, ‘Free, free Palestine.’ At one point, when a person supporting Israel interrupted, the crowd began chanting, ‘Kick them out!’ The council eventually took a five-minute break as the protesters were cleared out,” according to Fox News.

The resolution did contain one tiny segment about Palestinians, namely that “while Hamas’s attack was expressly directed at civilian Israeli targets, it has resulted in ensuing violence in Gaza that has caused the death of many innocent Palestinians.”

According to the Chicago Tribune, Silverstein also tweaked the resolution “in several places, removing a reference to the assault as ‘unprovoked,’ and a reference to ‘Israel’s right to defend itself.'”

“Friday’s resolution also updated the number of dead and wounded Israelis and kidnapped Americans, and changed a previous clause about expressing ‘deepest sorrow for the innocent Israelis’ murder,’ to ‘deepest sorrow for all innocent civilians,'” according to the Tribune.

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Vivek Saxena
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