MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council on Thursday passed a resolution supporting a cease-fire in Gaza , despite protestations from Mayor Jacob Frey that it was “one-sided” and would increase fear among Jewish people in the city.
The resolution, passed by a 9-3 vote, calls for a “a full, immediate, and permanent cease-fire … an end to U.S. military funding to the State of Israel … the release of all Israeli hostages taken by Hamas … [and] the release of thousands of Palestinians held indefinitely without cause and trial in Israeli military prisons.” While the resolution ensures no tangible actions, it will be shared with legislators, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and President Joe Biden.
Frey, who is Jewish, spoke out against the resolution before the vote.
“I’m here because our city needs unity right now. We need to be taking care of our people, all of our people. And this proposed resolution, the first proposed resolution misses the mark,” Frey said. “I support a cease-fire. I support a return of hostages. I support a two-state solution including both a sovereign Palestine and a sovereign Israel. And I support a resolution that can bring people together, not divide us. I would sign a resolution that meets those ends and draws those conclusions. This resolution, however, is one-sided. It chooses what context and history to include and what context and history to ignore.”