The vote came after more than a dozen people urged the council to vote it down, saying it lacked context
The Dallas City Council approved a resolution, 14-0, Wednesday supporting Israel amid its war with militant group Hamas as many residents called for the body to instead show support for Palestinians impacted by the Israeli government.
Mayor Eric Johnson and several other council members told the crowd at City Hall that it was meant to be a condemnation of Hamas and its attack on Israel, not a denouncement of the entire Palestinian community. Council member Jaime Resendez was absent from the meeting Wednesday.
The vote came after more than 2,000 people, including Johnson and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, gathered during a service Tuesday at North Dallas synagogue Temple Emanu-El in support of Israel.
“The city of Dallas stands with Israel in its fight against Hamas, prays for those who have lost family members and friends, calls for the swift return of all hostages, and hopes for a lasting resolution,” the city’s resolution said.
Johnson, who introduced the resolution, said he stood “for every word” in that section.
“If, in your mind, we’re voting on something different, then that’s just what it is — it’s in your mind,” the mayor said. “But we are voting on a piece of paper that has words on it that I think are important for us to say, as a city, about what we stand for.”
Hamas launched an attack into southern Israel on Saturday, prompting the Israeli government to formally declare war. The attack by Hamas and Israel’s response have led to more than 2,000 deaths and thousands of people wounded on both sides as of Wednesday morning, according to The Associated Press.
The Dallas resolution had supporters from both sides of the issue urging the council to “stand up for what’s right.”
Supporters of the Dallas declaration described it as the city strongly taking a stand against terrorism and antisemitism.
“This resolution is good,” said Eliyahu Kaufman, a rabbi and one of the founders of the Texas Torah Institute. “This resolution represents a moral clarity that is necessary in this issue, that people of the world come together and they recognize that this is wrong.”
But at least 18 people out of 26 who spoke to the City Council ahead of the vote asked council members to reject the resolution, saying the wording lacked context and was silent on Palestinians impacted by longtime land disputes and limitations placed on them by the Israeli government.
“We urge you to vote no,” said Noor Wadi, a Palestinian American attorney who works in Dallas. “Or even better, withdraw the resolution and instead present one that reflects our diverse city and our values by also acknowledging the suffering and inhumane conditions that Palestinians have faced and continue to face at the hands of Israel.”
Several council members said they felt the resolution was necessary to send a strong message that Dallas doesn’t tolerate terrorist acts and stands with Israel.
Council member Jaynie Schultz, who is Jewish and has Israeli citizenship, acknowledged that Israel “has made many mistakes regarding the Palestinians,” but the weekend attack “changed everything.”
“Nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies what Hamas has perpetrated,” said Schultz, who represents North Dallas. “Nothing, absolutely nothing, justifies the rampant antisemitism on display in other cities, in our schools public and private here in Dallas, and on social media.”
Council member Cara Mendelsohn, who is also Jewish, noted the city’s support echoed similar ones from elected officials around the state, including Gov. Greg Abbott. She said her city district in Far North Dallas has the largest Jewish population in North Texas and she asked the council to support the resolution unanimously.
“There isn’t one person in my community that I’ve spoken to that doesn’t have a direct connection with somebody living in Israel. Whether it’s a relative, a friend, a tourist, or a business associate,” she said. “These are real people, these are our people.”