London Breed Refuses To Sign Gaza Ceasefire Resolution

Credit: Pax Ahimsa Gethen

Since the horrific attack on Israel on Oct. 7th, and the disproportionate response by the Israeli government, many people have taken to the streets demanding a ceasefire. And it’s not hard to see why: according to recent figures, anywhere between twenty and thirty thousand people have been killed on the Gaza Strip – many of whom are civilians. The Associated Press reported that 16,000 of the dead are women and children. 

As a result of this, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors passed a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza, making San Francisco the first major city to do so. 

San Francisco has a long history of symbolic gestures to firmly place itself on the right side of history. The city’s supervisors recently voted to declare a ceasefire resolution. While I sincerely doubt Benjamin Netanyahu is losing any sleep over San Francisco’s ceasefire demands, it’s an olive branch to the Palestinian people and their many allies, letting them know that they are not alone in their fight for justice. 

Mayor London Breed is refusing to sign it. In a statement, Mayor Breed said:

“Sadly, demonization, heartlessness, and abject antisemitism have, it seems, become politically and socially acceptable among a certain subset of activists… The Board of Supervisors should have never put our city in this position. City supervisors are neither elected nor qualified to undertake complex foreign policy.” 

I’m going to try and say this as delicately as possible: Supervisor Dean Preston is Jewish. Dean Preston called for a ceasefire. Do you know why? Because he’s a human being. Supervisors Hilary Ronen, Aaron Peskin, and Myrna Melgar are also Jewish and supported the measure. I am of Jewish heritage (dad’s side), and I want a ceasefire. Many activists around the Bay Area are Jewish and they’re calling for a ceasefire. I think it’s unfair to the Jewish People to tie their identity on a right wing government’s expansion. Are there antisemites among the protestors? Undoubtedly. There’s been a staggering 400% spike in antisemitic incidents in the US since the Israel-Hamas war started. Does that mean people shouldn’t criticize a bombing campaign that has left tens of thousands of civilians dead? Fuck no. 

I’ve attended protests and I’ve talked to a number of Palestinian, Arab and Middle Eastern activists. When I have spoken to these people, in my experience, I didn’t detect any antisemitism. I’ve never seen a group of people so desperately want their basic humanity recognized. I’ve seen videos (too many) of children missing limbs, of dead civilians pulled from rubble, of children crying at the sight of their dead parents. 

If you’ve seen this kind of content, and have spoken to people who are educated on the issues facing the Palestinian people, calling for a ceasefire shouldn’t be controversial. Especially for a city like San Francisco. 

Opponents of a ceasefire in the Jewish community like Noa Tishby and others argue that a ceasefire would empower Hamas to plan and execute further attacks.

“If the Jewish state ceased to exist, it would be a calamity. Every Jew around the world would be in danger.”

Many Zionists look at Hamas as an existential threat to Israel. While this may or may not be true, it’s good to include both sides of the argument. Many Jews believe that Israel is essential to Jewish existence and that a ceasefire would be viewed as a capitulation to antisemites, eventually emboldening further attacks on Jewish people in both Israel and the wider world.

I’ve criticized London Breed a lot. But I’ve never been shocked by her. I’ve always understood what her agenda was. She’s a pro-business Democrat trying to silence the far-left. I’m not even mad at her. I understand that’s the situation we’re in. I even respect London Breed to an extent. I grew up poor and it was hard to get out of poverty, and I’m a white dude. If you’re a woman of color, those difficulties compound. I’m not ignorant of this. 

But what does she have to lose to denounce something the The Hague is litigating as a genocide? 

I don’t understand. This time I am shocked. What is she trying to prove?

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