BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, wouldn’t be anything without its Palestinian namesake city in the West Bank, locals argued at Tuesday’s city council meeting.
They said the conflict surrounding the Israel-Hamas war is and has always been an issue with local ties, and it’s due time one of the Lehigh Valley’s major cities made a public stance calling for an end to the violence.
Though an “off-the-cuff” call for Bethlehem Council’s own cease-fire resolution failed during the 10 p.m. hour Tuesday, a council majority assured the public it wanted the chance to get a potential future document just right before sharing it with state and national legislators.
“Cowards!” someone yelled out following a 1-5 vote on a motion by Councilman Bryan Callahan, seconded by Councilwoman Grace Crampsie Smith, to allow time for broader discussion.
Callahan was the sole supporter of the quick-hit resolution, echoing the urgent sentiments of the public in attendance.
Councilwoman Rachel Leon was absent.
If you wish to share your thoughts with officials on a potential cease-fire resolution, council and city clerk email addresses can be found here.
A number of different experiences
More than 30 local residents and college students came forward with their own experiences and perspectives, with everyone having a similar goal in mind: to demand from Bethlehem officials a cease-fire resolution regarding the fighting in Gaza.
Many of them stated they would rethink their stance at the ballot box if officials didn't make a proper move — something that should've happened before now, they said.
As for state and national leadership, some said government stances on the conflict have been "disappointing."
Here’s a look at the first public comment period, which lasted more than two hours. Some of the attendees had spoken on the same topic at recent Easton City Council meetings.
Council members unanimously showed at least some statements of cease-fire support in the meantime along with a couple of movements toward a vote Tuesday.
Shouts from across Town Hall wanted action without delay.
But the panel disagreed, wanting time to give proper attention to what was shared during public comment and the specific language of a resolution document.
While the vote on a cease-fire resolution failed Tuesday, officials say they want time to put together an effective document to make an impact on the higher-ups in Harrisburg and Washington.Bethlehem City Council, 2-20-24
Such a resolution would put Bethlehem among 70-something other municipalities across the country with some form of official public stance on the conflict.
All this came the same day U.S. officials offered the sole veto on an immediate cease-fire resolution from the United Nations Security Council, and a day after an American-backed “temporary” cease-fire measure to help settle current hostage negotiations.
Those who spoke during public comment emphasized how Lehigh Valley taxpayer money has been shown to fund Israeli military action in Gaza, with a total of more than $3 million coming from the area’s major cities.
The U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights has reported $1,092,980 in Bethlehem’s money has been put toward the “genocide.” Here’s how the group came up with that number.
Calls from council
Council also approved moving its “new business” discussion from its typical spot at the end of the agenda to further up the order, following “tabled items” and “unfinished business.”
Officials said that would allow the chance to share their viewpoints on the most pressing topic at hand without delaying what people want to hear most from the leadership.
Before the vote, Callahan kicked off the resolution discussion.
“I believe the fighting on both sides will continue forever, until at some point we all realize that a two-state solution is the answer,” he said.
“I will be writing and proposing at our next council meeting a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.”
"I will be writing and proposing at our next council meeting a resolution calling for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza.”Bethlehem City councilman Bryan Callahan
Councilwoman Colleen Laird said her grandmother was a Holocaust survivor who alongside her father and uncle, moved to Israel, where they lived for several years before coming to America.
She said she wouldn’t stay silent during this current “injustice” overseas — or any other, for that matter — “regardless of who it is against, regardless who is starting it, regardless of what history has happened.”
“I look forward to seeing what our council can put together to respond appropriately.”
Councilwoman Hillary Kwiatek shared her perspective as a Jewish member of the panel, saying the religion comes with opinions across the board and much diversity.
She said there’s more than meets the eye regarding the history of Israel.
“The sensitivity and the understanding, we can hold these two concepts in our mind at the same time — that Jews have been historically oppressed; genocide has been committed against them,” Kwiatek said.
“And at the same time, Muslims, Palestinians are also historically oppressed people [with] genocide and ethnic cleansing being placed upon them, as well. So I just wanted to share that to let you know that I’m not silent.”
She said a "no" to the quick-hit resolution wasn't a "no" to a document that was better discussed.
“So yes, it’s a foreign policy decision, but we see and feel its effects here. And it’s through collective action that voices will be heard. … It’s been indicated tonight that we will pursue this conversation, and I look forward to doing so with my colleagues.”Bethlehem City councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm
Councilwoman Kiera Wilhelm said that while the fighting occurs elsewhere, an “unprecedented” rise in hate crimes is happening stateside.
“So yes, it’s a foreign policy decision, but we see and feel its effects here,” Wilhelm said.
“And it’s through collective action that voices will be heard. … It’s been indicated tonight that we will pursue this conversation, and I look forward to doing so with my colleagues.”
A 'spirited' showing
“I know it might seem like we sit here, we don’t know, we don’t get it, we don’t care,” Councilwoman Grace Cramspie Smith said.
“And while I certainly cannot even begin to empathize what the people of Palestine are going through, I do as a school counselor work every day with refugees and immigrant children.
"And I hear their stories, and I hear the abuse and the violence and injustice that all have experienced from really young ages until high school.”
She said the “spirited” turnout from a majority 20-something crowd was inspiring.
“It’s not just about the word ‘cease-fire,’ but it’s about the permanent peace and it’s about what the conditions are that are included in that."Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds, on a potential Israel-Hamas cease-fire document from Bethlehem City Council
Council President Michael Colón said he appreciated the public showing up for their individual five minutes to address the panel.
“I hope that anyone who came and was hoping to speak had the opportunity to speak and felt comfortable speaking freely about their experience, their perspective and their opinion,” Colón said.
“We don’t have anything related to what was discussed on tonight’s agenda, but as we’ve heard from another colleague of council that we will anticipate something being put on a future agenda.”
Mayor J. William Reynolds said he was eager to see what council will end up drafting.
“It’s not just about the word ‘cease-fire,’ but it’s about the permanent peace and it’s about what the conditions are that are included in that,” Reynolds said.
“But it’s important to get the words here right. Because if it’s not going to be just symbolic, if it’s not about those two words, it’s important that you capture the spirit of this room, the spirit of people that are not here tonight that will have the opportunity to weigh in the next two weeks and the spirit of the people on city council.”
