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Regional Officers <br />Regional Chair <br />Michelle Gerstley <br />Committee Chairs <br />Advocacy & Engagement <br />Stuart Katz <br />Civil Rights <br />Stuart Wolfe <br />Development <br />Gene Alterman <br />Education <br />Robin Steinmetz <br />At large <br />Josh Grushkin <br />Mark Kudler <br />Michael Rosen <br />Mike Rubin <br />Marc Schneider <br />Regional Staff <br />Regional Director <br />Peter Levi <br />Director of Development <br />Evelyn Ramirez -Schultz <br />Director of Education <br />Shannon McGowan <br />National Officers <br />National Chair <br />Ben Sax <br />CEO and National Director <br />Jonathan Greenblatt <br />Deputy National Director <br />Kenneth Jacobson <br />ADL@ <br />ORANGE COUNTY/ <br />LONG BEACH <br />March 4, 2024 <br />Santa Ana City Council <br />22 Civic Center Plaza <br />Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br />Dear Members of the Santa Ana City Council, <br />On behalf of the Anti -Defamation League (ADL) Orange County/Long Beach Region, we <br />write to you with concern over the proposed resolution by the City of Sana Ana <br />Councilmember Vasquez. <br />Following Hamas' horrific terrorist attack on Israel on October 7 and the ensuing war in <br />Gaza with a large humanitarian toll, it is understandable that calls are intensifying for an <br />immediate ceasefire. We all hope for a cessation of hostilities, the return of all the <br />hostages, a respite for the affected civilians in Gaza, and a future of peace and security <br />for Israelis and Palestinians. <br />While the ceasefire resolution is seemingly a well-intentioned effort for the city of <br />Santa Ana to make a statement about the Israel-Hamas conflict, the ongoing war is <br />nuanced and such statements require careful consideration in its potential impact on <br />affected communities. We are concerned with the precedent that such a resolution <br />could set in commenting on future conflicts — further dividing the City of Santa Ana. <br />Additionally, this resolution is a second attempt to address this issue after the first <br />resolution didn't pass while fomenting hostilities in the city. <br />Our elected council represents broad and diverse constituencies. City councils are not <br />tasked with creating positions on behalf of the United States as it relates to foreign <br />policy. And such city council resolutions and statements are simply declaratory in <br />nature — further pulling the community apart. We would suggest that it would be more <br />constructive, and aligned with the role of these elected bodies, to introduce measures <br />to bring communities together, rather than sow divisions. Words matter and in the fight <br />against hate, action is just as important. <br />Furthermore, as we have seen across the country, the introduction of these resolutions <br />has been used in many cases as an opportunity for individuals to use the public <br />comment portion of debate to demonize Israel, Zionists and Jews and engage in other <br />forms of antisemitic speech. <br />While it is welcome and appropriate for the City of Santa Ana to condemn "the recent <br />rise of Islamophobia, Antisemitism, racist, homophobic, and xenophobic attacks in our <br />ADL Orange County/Long Beach <br />1201 Dove Street, Suite 390, Newport Beach, CA 92660 1 t: 949.679.3737 1 Orange-County@adl.org I Orange-County.adl.org <br />