Council resolutions

Re “Local issues” (Your Views, April 11): The letter writer argued local city councils have no business passing Gaza ceasefire resolutions.

Members of the Interfaith Coalition in Support of Human Rights spoke to the Virginia Beach City Council in favor of the council adopting a specific Gaza ceasefire resolution. It was the only formal resolution discussed during the public comment period. But it didn’t support Hamas; its first two paragraphs clearly identify Hamas as a terrorist organization whose members killed more than 1,300 Israelis on Oct. 7.

All violations of human rights warrant attention, and we don’t feel that a resolution on Gaza runs counter to Virginia Beach interests. Roughly 100 municipalities across the United States have passed similar resolutions to show where constituents’ hearts are — to say, simply, “enough.” Find a diplomatic, political and nonviolent solution to problems that have been festering for the better part of a century before the conflict spreads to other nations. If it does spread, it’s a good bet that Virginia Beach, with its large military presence, will be directly involved.

The council recognized foreign interests before in 2022 when it adopted a resolution excoriating Russia for invading and bombing Ukraine. Council members knew where the hearts of most Virginia Beach residents stood, with an independent Ukraine, and acted accordingly. Moreover, Oct. 17 the council issued a resolution decrying the Hamas attack on Israel. Our coalition is asking the council to do it again — to unify city residents under the banner of “enough.”

— Rabbi Ellen Jaffe-Gill, Virginia Beach