Brookline Town Meeting votes to table Israel-Hamas ceasefire resolution, bypassing debate

Brookline, which has one of the highest populations of Jewish people in the Greater Boston area, wrapped up its annual Town Meeting on Thursday by voting to table a resolution that would’ve called for a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. 

The motion to table, passed with 81 percent of meeting members in favor, quashed any possible debate on the resolution. The motion was presented by Town Meeting member Shira Fischer and co-sponsored by 27 other members. 

“Warrant Article 19 is unrelated to the legislative operations of Brookline and is divisive,” Fischer said in a statement after the vote. “Town Meeting is an inappropriate venue for a debate and vote on a highly complex and rapidly changing foreign affairs issue that requires more nuanced discussion than this forum can provide.”

Article called on Mass. legislators to ‘act in accordance’ with it

The proposed article asked Brookline to call for an “immediate humanitarian ceasefire” and the return of all hostages. The original resolution called out Israel for supposed “collective punishment” of Palestinians and asked Brookline to oppose unconditional U.S. military aid to Israel.

Over 30,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza, mostly civilians, after Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, according to local authorities there. Hamas killed more than 1,200 people and took 240 hostages in its attack. 

Though largely symbolic, the resolution also called on Massachusetts legislators in Congress to “act in accordance” with the resolution. 

Large crowds both for and against the resolution gathered outside of Brookline High School, where the meeting was held, before the meeting started at 7 p.m. One group was holding Israeli flags and making noise in attempts to drown out speeches by pro-ceasefire demonstrators, Sam Mintz of the Brookline News said in a post on X. 

The document wasn’t discussed until about 10:30 p.m. — if it hadn’t been tabled, Town Meeting would have resumed on Tuesday. 

Original document amended multiple times over wording

The original article was amended several times by town residents before Thursday over issues with wording and concerns over the complexity of the conflict. 

“Despite good faith efforts to temper terminology, all the potential substantive motions are flawed and one-sided in some respect,” a motion to refer the article to the town’s Select Board by resident Richard Benka read. “While each motion sets forth cogent arguments, each also fails to even mention critical countervailing arguments in a real world beset by historical animosity, political agendas, and human suffering.”

Other motions emphasized residents’ “personal connections” to the conflict and the “hostile work … and learning environment” it has caused. One proposed amendment, offered by Michael Burstein and Scott Gladstone, shortened the resolution to two paragraphs that stated Brookline “supports the Biden Administration in its efforts to seek a peaceful resolution to the war in Gaza.”

“This amendment, if adopted, would allow Town Meeting to make a statement, which people from all segments of Brookline can embrace and does not require Town Meeting members to become expert on the history of the current conflict (at whatever point in history one chooses to begin looking at that history) or on the correct policy that will end the current outbreak, while also facilitating (or, not degrading) the chance for a lasting peace,” the amendment read. 

Another resident said he supported the passing of the resolution but thought that “assessing blame for the death tolls” and “judging the United States for the timing and amount of military assistance … provided to Israel” is wrong and divisive. 

“Nevertheless, I believe that passing Article 19’s call to action is worthwhile and well within Town Meeting’s long held tradition of speaking out for peace and international cooperation,” Mark Levy, the amendment author, wrote in the explanation for his changes. 

The vote comes as towns across the state have weighed in on a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war at their annual town meetings. Wellfleet is the latest to pass a ceasefire resolution, while Arlington voted “no action.”

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