Howard Council votes against resolution calling for cease-fire in Gaza
- Oops!Something went wrong.Please try again later.
Feb. 5—By Sherry Greenfield — sgreenfield@baltsun.com
PUBLISHED:February 5, 2024 at 12:49 p.m.| UPDATED:February 8, 2024 at 10:34 p.m.
An overflow crowd gathered to watch the Howard County Council meeting Monday night at the George Howard Building in Ellicott City, crying out and interrupting council members as they discussed a proposed resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza.
Council member Liz Walsh, a Democrat who represents District 1, introduced the resolution last week. It asked for the Biden administration and congressional leaders in Maryland to facilitate an end to the Israel-Hamas war and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. The resolution urged elected officials to take "immediate action to use their position and influence" to end the humanitarian crisis in the region.
The resolution failed Monday, with only Walsh voting for it, and council members Deb Jung, David Yungmann and Opel Jones voting against it. Christiana Rigby did not attend the meeting.
No public comment was allowed, but after the vote several attendees shouted "cowards" at the council members.
Jung worked hard throughout the council's discussion to maintain control of the meeting, but several attendees were escorted out of the meeting room due to their interruptions.
Jung said she voted against the resolution because she did not believe it was the Howard County Council's job to tell the Biden administration what to do, and that the council had more pertinent issues to address.
Jones said he thought long and hard about the issue and ultimately voted against the resolution because he wanted all sides of the issue represented in issuing a statement.
To that end, Jung announced that the county's newly formed Interfaith Advisory Council would host a public forum Feb. 26 so that county residents could discuss the issue.
Rabbi Yanky Baron, of Chabad Lubavitch of Ellicott City, said before the meeting that he and other members of the local Jewish community were disappointed that the resolution did not mention the Israeli hostages that the Hamas terrorists continue to hold. They also believe that the council should not insert itself into the international issue.
"We disagree with [Walsh] completely," he said. "This goes beyond her position on the council. It has caused a lot of division in our community and has nothing to do with our community in Howard County. To bring this in is beyond her scope on the council, and it's causing division."
According to reports from The Associated Press, on Oct. 7, about 1,500 Hamas terrorists crossed the border into southern Israel and assaulted and killed at least 1,200 Israelis. More than 240 hostages were taken by Hamas that day, and the event is considered to be one of the deadliest terrorist attacks against Israel since the state's establishment in 1948. Hamas has released dozens of hostages, but dozens are still being held. In retaliation, Israel has waged war in Gaza aimed at destroying Hamas. The war has claimed more than 26,000 Palestinian lives.
Some international leaders have called for a cease-fire in Gaza, but bombings have continued in the 25-mile strip along the Mediterranean Sea. The ongoing war has elicited protests around the world, calling for an end to the violence in the Gaza Strip, and the release of the remaining hostages.
Conflicts have also come up in academic settings across the United States — most notably, sparking the resignations of two Ivy League presidents, Harvard University President Claudine Gay and University of Pennsylvania President Liz Magill, following a contentious congressional hearing addressing antisemitism on their campuses.
In Anne Arundel County, a Muslim civil rights group filed a complaint last month accusing the county's public school system of placing a Pakistani teacher under investigation after she expressed concerns about a colleague's email they say "pushed a biased and discriminatory narrative" about the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Baron said despite the policy disagreement, the Chabad has always had a good working relationship with Walsh.
"She has attended a lot of our events. She has supported us, and we want to keep it that way," Baron said. "Around the world, Chabad works together with many people of power for the benefit of the Jewish people."
—
Supporters of the ceasefire resolution stand outside the GHeorge Howard Building prior to the County Council meeting Monday evening. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Supporters of the ceasefire resolution stand outside the GHeorge Howard Building prior to the County Council meeting Monday evening. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Supporters of the ceasefire resolution stand outside the GHeorge Howard Building prior to the County Council meeting Monday evening. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Supporters of the ceasefire resolution stand outside the GHeorge Howard Building prior to the County Council meeting Monday evening. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Supporters of the cease-fire resolution stand outside the George Howard Building prior to the Howard County Council meeting Monday evening. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Matt Levine, of River Hill, waves the Israeli flag in support of Israel. The Howard County Council held its regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items discussed was a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, the vice chair and a Democrat from District 1, calling for President Joe Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a cease-fire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Loei Burman, Clarksville, stands in support of Israel and those Israelis kidnapped Oct. 7. She returned last week from volunteering in Israel. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Lori Burman, Clarksville, wears a medal and sweatshirt that say "Bring Them Home Now," in support of Israel and those taken hostage Oct. 7, outside the George Howard Building prior to the county council meeting. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Supporters of Israel hold pictures of those kidnapped Oct. 7, outside the George Howard Building prior to the county council meeting Monday evening. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Rabbi Faith Cantor, Education Director Bet Chavreim in Columbia, stands in support of Israel with her children; Ora Cantor, 16, Keren Cantor, 12, and Gavi Cantor, 14. They attended the same summer camp with kidnapped music festival attendee, Liri Albag, who's picture is held by Ori. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Supporters of Israel, wave the Israeli flag prior to the county council meeting Monday evening. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Lori Burman, Clarksville, and Jill and Fred Lewis, Fulton, stand outside the George Howard Building in support of Israel prior to the county council meeting Monday eveningh. They had just arrived back home, volunteering in Israel last week. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Supporters of Israel and those taken hostage Oct. 7, rally outside the George Howard Building prior to the county council meeting. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
—
Debbie Bastacky, River Hill, and Judy Dubick, Fulton, holding a picture of kidnapped Israeli, Guy Gilboa Dalal, stans in support of Israel outside the George Howard Building prior to the county council meeting Monday evening. The Howard County Council held their regular legislative meeting Monday. One of the items for a vote, is a resolution put forth by Councilwoman Liz Walsh, Vice Chair, Democrat, District 1, calling for President Biden and Maryland congressional leaders to facilitate a ceasefire and to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza. (Jeffrey F. Bill/Staff photo)
of
Expand
Share this:
— Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
— Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
—
