Bipartisan Georgia House resolution condemns Hamas, stands by the Israeli government

Members of the Georgia House of Representatives recently voted to pass HR 4EX, a resolution condemning the Hamas attacks and pledging support for the Israeli government. The resolution was introduced by Rep. Brent Cox (R-Dawsonville) and Rep. Esther Panitch (D-Sandy Springs) and received bipartisan support, passing 129-2 with 31 members of the house abstaining, and an additional 18 members recusing themselves from voting.

“The People’s House joined together in support of our friends and allies in Israel as they fight against the Hamas regime,” House Speaker Jon Burns (R-Newington) said in a press release. “Israel stood with the United States after the attacks of 9/11, and I am proud that the Georgia House strongly conveyed that we are standing with our allies in Israel.”

Although the resolution passed with overwhelming support, Chatham County’s House delegation was split, with the three Republican legislators voting yes, and the three Democratic legislators abstaining from the vote entirely.

“I'm getting a lot of text and calls and messages from people who are saying thank you for standing with Israel and against terrorism," said Rep. Jesse Petrea (R-Savannah), who voted yes on the resolution. “I'm also getting a lot of people questioning why so many people chose to intentionally miss that vote and walk off the floor or excuse themselves.”

Petrea expressed disappointment with the outcome, saying he expected the vote to be a unanimous.

“We support the Jewish people,” Petrea said. “The Jewish people in Savannah and the Jewish people in Israel overwhelmingly support the state of Israel, which is now in a war. And again, this measure was specifically directed toward Hamas terrorism on Jewish people.”

However, Rep. Anne Allen Westbrook (D-Savannah) expressed concerns about the open-endedness of the resolution in a statement posted to Instagram, saying that while she unequivocally condemns Hamas, she could not in good conscience cast her vote.

“My belief in human rights includes Palestinians, their right to self-determination and their right to live free from fear and violence,” Westbrook wrote in the statement. “The resolution rightly acknowledges Israel's right to defend itself, but fails to urge that that right be exercised in ways that limit the deaths of Palestinian civilians. In fact, it does not acknowledge the existence of Palestinians at all.”

She added, “The resolution repeatedly cites the presence of Hamas supporters in Georgia, without stating what the evidence to support that claim is, if any. A vague and unsupported reference to the presence of Hamas supporters in our state is, in my view, harmful, irresponsible, and dangerous. Being perceived as a terrorist will put Georgians at risk. I cannot support a resolution that I believe fans the flames of any form of hatred or violence, particularly when both antisemitism and Islamophobia are surging. And I cannot support a resolution that I believe pits Georgians against each other. The words we use as leaders matter.”

Rep. Westbrook’s sentiments were echoed by Rooted Ummah, a Muslim community organization that has been advocating for the Palestinian people.

“I do not support a bill that entices any form of hatred or violence, especially when both antisemitism and Islamophobia are surging," said Rooted Ummah’s president and founder Laila Abdallah in a statement. “This bill doesn’t represent the people of Georgia and I cannot support a bill that openly supports Israel and pins Georgians against each other.”

Though the resolution did not pass unanimously, Jewish community leaders said they were grateful for the support they received from Georgia’s legislators.

“I think most people are very, very thankful that we have so many people from both sides who really understand that this is the most difficult time for Jews in our country, probably since before World War II,” said Rabbi Haas, who leads the Congregation Mickve Israel in Savannah. “It’s the worst time in my lifetime and thank goodness we're in Savannah. We're not actually feeling it because everybody here is so supportive.”

Though he said he had not read the specifics of the resolution, he added, "It's really great to see what Savannah and Georgia has done to show support. We also know in a lot of other places, there's a lot of ignorance and a lot of people who are not showing support, so it's really appreciated here.”

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Georgia House condemns Hamas, stands by Israel in new resolution