A motion requesting solidarity with the people of Israel during the Israel-Hamas war was defeated in Quinte West City Council on Wednesday.
The motion came from correspondence from the National Director of the League for Human Rights B’nai Brith Canada, Marvin Rotrand.
During discussion of the motion, some councillors spoke to the issue being beyond the scope of the municipality.
“We have a federal government to speak to this particular issue and I know our premier has also spoken to this issue. I just feel that as a municipality, that this isn’t in the scope of city business for the city of Quinte West,” Councillor Don Kuntze stated to council.
Councillor Egerton Boyce echoed the sentiments of Councillor Kuntze, stating that the provincial and federal governments could speak better on the issue than the municipality.
Councillor Zack Card stated that he would be willing to support the motion but did note that the motion did not address the nuances or shades of grey regarding the war.
“I will support it but it certainly shouldn’t be read as not to also come hand in hand with great sympathy for the suffering of innocents in the Gaza Strip at this point too,” Card said.
Councillor Sally Freeman said she was hoping for peace in the Middle East.
“I just hope that we’re all sending very best wishes and praying for peace across the Middle East and Ukraine right now,” Freeman said.
“There’s a lot of people suffering and what I’d like to concentrate on is peace.”
