The April 17 edition of the Wednesday Journal reports that the recent meeting at the Village Board regarding a Gaza war ceasefire resolution “erupted in anger” [Contentious Oak Park meeting reflects global tensions over Israel-Hamas war]. This is a sensationalistic account. In fact, two people at the meeting, who were not affiliated with the pro-ceasefire group, were disruptive. Everyone else, on both sides of the issue, behaved with respect and decorum.
WJ unfairly opines that the pro-ceasefire group naively insisted on a trustees vote, contrary to the Illinois Open Meetings Act. But before any public comment, Trustee President Vicki Scaman announced that the village board had already conferred and had decided to deny the resolution. The trustees’ back-room conference arguably violated the Open Meetings Act. So for transparency and to correct the board’s error, as a Jewish attendee, I asked that each board member publicly announce their position on the resolution.
Lastly, a letter to WJ opposing the ceasefire resolution, mistakenly stated that the resolution only applies to Israel and not to Hamas. Actually, the resolution’s purpose applies to all combatants. This same letter misguidedly states that a ceasefire would leave Hamas intact, thereby enabling Hamas to someday again attack Israel.
Hamas, although murderously brutal and religiously fundamentalist, does nevertheless draw on Palestinians’ rightful and long-held desire for self-determination. That desire cannot be militarily extinguished. To quote Aluf Benn, editor-in-chief of Haaretz, “to live in peace, Israel will have to finally come to terms with the Palestinians … continuing the occupation, expanding Israeli settlements in the West Bank, laying siege to Gaza, and refusing to make any territorial compromise (or even recognize Palestinian rights) will not bring the country lasting security. … [Israel must] chart a path to peace and dignified coexistence with the Palestinians.” A permanent ceasefire is a necessary first step, which will be advanced by the ceasefire resolution.
See //foreignaffairs.com/israel/israels-netanyahu-self-destruction.
Jim Poznak
Oak Park