Counterpoint: Cease-fire resolution neither distracting nor divisive

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In the midst of sustained mass protests around the world calling for an end to the genocide in Gaza, the city of Minneapolis has a unique opportunity to send an important message: We support an immediate and permanent cease-fire.

This message is coming from a multifaith, multiracial, cross-class coalition of people who stand for justice. As Jews, whose experiences of generational trauma guide us in our values, when we say "never again," we mean never again for anybody.

This is what brought many Minneapolis Jews to take action in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, to protest inhumane ICE detention centers, and now to unwaveringly support a cease-fire and justice for Palestinians.

Our calls for justice continue despite divisive attacks from those who seek to conflate Zionism with Judaism. We understand that Zionism is a racist ideology that weaponizes antisemitism to justify a 75-year settler-colonial project that was built on the back of Palestinian displacement and genocide.

Jews in Minneapolis call on City Council members to vote yes on the cease-fire resolution that is slated for a vote on Jan. 25. The language of this resolution is aligned with our value of Tzedek tzedek tirdof, or "Justice, justice, you shall pursue," which calls on Jews to act on our consciences so that we may live in alignment with each other. The path toward justice starts with an immediate and permanent cease-fire.

Witnessing the unfolding atrocities in Gaza, with over 22,000 civilians dead — including over 8,500 children — thousands buried under rubble and 85% of the population displaced and being starved, it is unconscionable that we wouldn't do everything in our power to stop this.

The U.S. government is funding this genocide with no plans to restrict Israel's use of American weapons despite the disproportionate targeting of civilians. Right now as Jews, as Americans, as Minnesotans, as Minneapolitans — our power lies in our collective voice of support for this resolution.

We also want to respond to the recent commentary by Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw ("On Gaza, Council out of its lane, meeting out of control," Jan. 11; see also "A City Council in the wrong place," editorial, Jan. 13). We are tired of elected officials with connections to AIPAC speaking for us as Jews, and defending this horrific violence in our name. Vetaw's attempt to shirk responsibility by claiming that this conflict is too complicated and out of your purview rings hollow considering her support for the "Unity with Ukraine Resolution."

By implying that this cease-fire resolution will cause harm to Jewish residents of Minneapolis, you further conflate Jews and Judaism with Israel and its supporters, and diminish actual instances of antisemitism. The resolution we put forward along with our Muslim neighbors and our council members is clear and is aligned with the views of the vast majority of Minneapolitans: We need an end to this genocide now. Cease-fire now!

Passing a cease-fire resolution on the city level is crucial considering Sens. Amy Klobuchar's and Tina Smith's inaction and complicity in genocide. This resolution sends a powerful message that the largest city in Minnesota overwhelmingly stands behind a cease-fire and that our senators' neutrality is unacceptable.

Contrary to Council Member Vetaw's assertion, we know that Israelis and Palestinians do care about what we think across the world, with families of hostages in Israel protesting for a cease-fire and Gazans pleading for international intervention. This is our opportunity to amplify the voices of people most impacted and assert that we do not condone violence done in our names.

Latest polling shows that at least 61% of U.S. voters support a permanent cease-fire. Unlike the attacks by opponents, the resolution is not divisive. In supporting this proposal, we are aligned with hundreds of others in an incredibly diverse coalition across numerous communities in Minneapolis, and would join dozens of cities across the country that have passed a resolution calling on Israel to end its genocidal bombardment. We aren't here to divide, we are here to invite you to join us in the fight for peace and justice.

Josina Manu Maltzman and Joseph Mogul are members of Jewish Voice for Peace-Twin Cities.