Agenda Item #11.1 Rhoda Bress Received 02 26 2024.pdfCAUTION: This email originated from an External Source. Please use proper judgment and caution when opening
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From:Rhoda Bress
To:All Council Members
Subject:EXTERNAL - Resolution
Date:Sunday, February 25, 2024 7:29:15 PM
Dear Mayor Blankley and Gilroy City Councilmembers,
We are writing to share our concern with the Gilroy City Council’s decision to bring forward a
resolution before the council that addresses the conflict in Gaza and Israel. As Gilroy
residents, we strongly believe it would be in this community’s best interest for this item to be
either removed from the agenda or substituted with an ant-hate resolution, such as the one
adopted by the Santa Cruz City Council, one which takes all sides into consideration and would
unite, rather than divide, our community.
There is nothing we would like to see more in our lifetime than peace in the Middle East, and
the suffering both sides have endured in this conflict is horrific. If we thought that a cease fire
resolution would result in peace, we would be the first to support one. However, we know
from history that cease fires have not resulted in peace. There has been one cease fire after
another in Israel; all of them have been violated by Hamas. Hamas has stated that it will
repeat the October 7 attack again and again until Israel is annihilated. A resolution not only
won’t solve the problem, but it will create new ones; it will foment divisiveness within the
Gilroy community and increase antisemitism, which is already at a very dangerous level.
It has been well documented that resolutions on the Israel-Hamas war have only increased
tensions in local communities. The Jewish community has watched as several cities in the Bay
Area have considered ceasefire resolutions, resulting in 5-10 hours of public comments,
aggressively disrespectful behavior, name calling, antisemitic epithets shouted by attendees,
physical altercations, and property damage.
The Gilroy City Council should lead with empathy and ensure all residents feel supported and
welcomed. However, if the City Council decides to move forward with a resolution, we
strongly urge that it be one that is balanced. Language should not be one-sided or overtly
political and must show compassion to all communities impacted by the conflict.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely yours,
Rhoda and Martin Bress
AGENDA ITEM 11.1
02/26/2024
REGULAR MEETING