Relevant issue

Re “Local issues” (Your Views, April

11): The letter writer argued city councils weren’t the place for Gaza cease-fire resolutions.

Why pass cease-fire resolutions? First, thousands of local military families who will be impacted by wider conflict, which becomes more likely every day. Second, a U.N. expert has called this a genocide. We must stand against genocide — no matter the victims or purported cause.

Why “fixate” on Israel? We aren’t funding genocides in Sudan and Congo. Our provision of money and weapons makes us complicit. Further, that money is needed here. Per the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, last year Virginia sent enough money for solar power for 302,264 homes, salaries for 1,159 teachers, free or low-cost health care for 36,941 children or public housing for 12,621 families — something of use in a region suffering a housing crisis. (Israel has universal health care and a subsidized housing lottery.)

As for antisemitism: Can we guarantee no antisemitism exists anywhere within the pro-Palestinian movement?

No. Antisemitism is a real and global problem to be combated as loudly as any bigotry. Is criticizing Israel or Zionism antisemitic? No — neither are inherent to anyone’s identity. Anti-Zionist Jews can attest to this. That addresses why this is a local issue and not a bad-faith initiative. As for how the councils’ time is spent, if we ever fund so many “plausible” genocides, according to the International Court of Justice, that we cannot sustainably introduce and pass an eight-sentence resolution — we have bigger problems.

I urge everyone to ask their city officials to join about 100 localities nationwide that have passed resolutions. An end cannot come too soon.

—Amanda Mileur, Norfolk