BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Chicago City Council, support the United Nations implementation of "Uniting for Peace," which called an emergency session on Hamas violence.
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson (WTTW) RESOLVED, that we, the Chicago City Council, do hereby call upon Hamas to implement a permanent ceasefire to end their ongoing hostility against Israel; call for the unconditional release of all hostages; and
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the members of the Chicago City Council, call for the creation of plans to protect civilian populations in Israel, in particular to support the needs of women, children, persons with disabilities, and the elderly; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that suitable copies of this resolution be sent to President Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, and the Illinois Congressional delegation.
Wow. I am impressed. Finally. The city council of one of the largest cities in the country recognizes what Israel has gone through in the form of a city council resolution.
Except that they didn’t. Using most of its language I altered their actual resolution, Which can be read in its entirely here. It demands a cease fire in Gaza without mentioning a word about who is responsible for the casualties of that war. Without mentioning that Israel is doing the best they can to avoid civilian casualties in its existential war against Hamas. Without mentioning that Hamas is doing their best to maximize civilian casualties and blame it on Israel. Which they are succeeding in doing.
Even though I was never a supporter of the progressive mayor and voted against him, after the election he came to Chicago’s Jewish community and had a favorable reception from a group of Orthodox Jewish lay and rabbinic leaders. Who said that he was impressed by our community - and that they were impressed with his reaching out to us and his positive reaction to that meeting. That gave me some hope that he would be here for us when it counted. But I was wrong.
And it isn’t only about us. From day one, his progressive approach to governance has proven to be a disaster for Chicago in a variety of ways. Mostly with respect to violent crime and dealing with the migrant crisis. Both of which are negatively affecting the constituency that voted him into office.
I have to wonder whether that constituency would still vote for him. Day after day the local news media reports of shootings and murder of innocent young victims in their neighborhoods. With parents crying bitterly over what happened to them.
The Mayor’s progressive approach has done nothing to stop crime other than talking about dealing with the underlying poverty that he believes is responsible for it. I suspect that the parents of the young victims might feel the same way about his governing philosophy. They want better policing and he’s giving them explanations and excuses.
And now Johnson has lowered himself by favoring a unilateral cease fire in Gaza. Not that he put it that way. But he knows will happen. He is not stupid. He knows Hamas has no intention of stopping their attacks against the Jewish people of Israel. They have instead publicly promised to do the exact opposite and to keep doing it until they get what they want. A cease fire by Israel will only embolden Hamas. Enabling them to regroup and rearm. With the eager support and material help from Iran
This is the hallmark of progressivism. They see the here and now and could not care less how we got there. It doesn’t occur to them that history and context will tell you what the moral and ethical approach should be. To the progressive its all about stopping the carnage and worry about the consequences later. They consider themselves to posses the moral high ground and don’t recognize that the consequences may be worse than leaving things as they are.
This resolution came up because Palestinians and supporters all over the world have been marching and protesting. Demanding a cease fire. By which they mean Israel. Not Hamas. Chicago and its surrounding Cook County has he largest population of Palestinians in the country. Dozens of them have been showing up daily in city hall screaming their heads off about Israel’s genocide. Half the city council heard them – and nothing else. As did mayor Johnson.
Meanwhile Chicago is falling apart at the seams from his progressive leadership. Johnson may actually be the worst mayor in Chicago history. Especially for Jews - and ironically for blacks
Oh for the days of Mayor Richard J. Daley. Under his long term rule as mayor, Chicago had the unique distinction of being the city that works. That was the cover story in Time Magazine during his tenure. He died whle in office. And Chicago hasn’t been the same. Now, instead of being the city that works, Chicago is the murder capital of he world.
I am pleased to see a unified response from the ADL, JUF and the Illinois branch of Agudah. The following is Agudah’s response - with which I heartily agree:
Today, Mayor Brandon Johnson cast the tie-breaking vote to pass a city resolution that undermines the United States’ support of Israel and attempts to take away Israel’s autonomy to choose the most effective way to keep its citizens safe. Agudath Israel of Illinois is deeply disappointed with this development, as Chicago is the largest city in the US to pass such a one-sided divisive resolution.
The resolution does not put the blame for the current war in Gaza on the perpetrator of the violence of October 7th – Hamas, a recognized terror organization. It does not independently call for the unconditional release of the hostages held by Hamas – including men, women and children, among them senior citizens and a one-year-old baby – right now.
Agudath Israel thanks Alderwoman Debra Silverstein (the only Jewish Alderperson in the city council - who also happens to be Orthodox ) and the other 22 aldermen who stood strong in their opposition to the resolution.