More Push East Brunswick To Call For Gaza Ceasefire, But Council Remains Firm

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ – In an emotionally charged meeting on Monday, more activists and residents pushed the East Brunswick Council to adopt a resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.

The Council however remained firm on its previous position — it would not legislate international issues.

Before the start of the public portion of the meeting, Council President Kevin McEvoy made a statement to the community.

“Let me remind everyone, that I as your Council President have said from this dais and will reiterate again for the fifth time – this township will not legislate international issues and therefore will not be issuing a resolution on said matters,” McEvoy said.

Ateka Gunja, an East Brunswick resident said the resolution suggested to the Council was based on a resolution passed in Oakland California.

“It is a simple and straightforward document calling on elected officials and residents alike to protect life and stand united against violence,” Gunja said. “The resolution seeks to achieve peace and humanitarian assistance which can only be implemented with a permanent ceasefire.”

She said the resolution was well within the purview of the Township Council as East Brunswick was home to Israeli and Palestinian families as well as a large population of Jewish and Muslim residents.

“We must stand united as a community as we always have behind our shared values of humanity, peace, justice and equality,” Gunja said.

Resident Norman Finkelshteyn proposed a counter-resolution for peace in the Middle East.

“Instead of talking about a ceasefire, if you are to consider a resolution, I propose this resolution for a permanent and secure peace in the Middle East - Having heard the pain expressed by our Arab and Jewish community members and their allies regarding the horrible impacts of war ongoing in the Middle East, we hereby resolve that all efforts must be made by the US to remove all impediments to the Middle Eastern peace via the elimination of the politically fascistic race supremacists, religious supremacists, and otherwise despotic criminal organizations including Hamas,” Finkelshteyn said.

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