Local cease-fire resolutions have zero standing

The local Jewish Federation of Ulster County would like to call out the Saugerties, Gardiner, Beacon, Kingston and other local governments on this one: No local municipality’s “Cease-fire in Gaza” resolution has any standing whatsoever regarding American foreign policy. And they certainly have zero standing, weight or credibility in Israel.

Such local resolutions are narcissistic publicity-seeking exercises by Hamas apologists, usually filled with anti-Semitic tropes and lies. They are intellectually lazy and give succor and support to actual terrorists.

Did any local resolution demand a cease-fire during the infamous Lebanese Civil War, 1975-1990, resulting in 150,000 fatalities? Or the Syrian Civil War, 2011-present, resulting in 470,000 to 610,000 deaths, making it the second-deadliest conflict in the 21st century after the Second Congo War? Syria now has over 6.7 million refugees and 13 million internally displaced, but not one ceasefire resolution here.

And nary a resolution for the ongoing Yemen three-way civil war, 2014-present, led by Iran-backed Houthi terrorists, now attacking international shipping and Israel? According to the UN, over 200,000 people have been killed in Yemen, as well as estimates of more than 227,000 dead as a result of the ongoing famine and lack of healthcare facilities, courtesy of the Houthis.

Did anyone ever ask for a “cease-fire” here after the terror attacks of 9/11? But for some reason, some local municipalities now want a “cease-fire” in Gaza. Let us tell you: There will be a cease-fire in Gaza when every hostage is returned and terror attacks against Israel completely stop. Israel has the absolute right to self-defense after being attacked on Oct. 7 and will decide when a “cease-fire” is appropriate on its own terms.

Harv Hilowitz Stone Ridge