The divestment motion is a bad idea for Easthampton. The proposal carries a significant financial risk for our city. Easthampton is struggling financially, having recently passed an override. Northampton and Medford passed similar resolutions resulting in lawsuits, requiring their councils to approve $75,000 for outside legal counsel. We can’t afford to risk thousands of local taxpayer dollars on protracted legal battles.

A city council’s job is to manage local infrastructure, budgets, and public safety. We have seen a documented history of antisemitic incidents in Easthampton and reported incidents in Northampton after their proposal passed. Passing a one-sided resolution attacking Israel without mentioning and taking action on all the other countries violating human rights, like Gaza, Egypt, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, China etc. will only heighten tensions here. Israel is the only stable democracy in the Middle East and a vital U.S. ally.

The resolution completely ignores the severe human rights violations committed by Hamas, the October 7th murders of over 1,200 Israeli citizens, their use of civilians as human shields during the war, their ongoing murder of political opponents and oppression of women and LGBTQ+ citizens. It ignores the fact that Israel is forced to defend itself against thousands of rockets fired at its cities by hostile proxies like Hezbollah and that Gaza aid distribution is disrupted by active combat and food theft by Hamas and armed gangs. The United Nations has a history of long-standing hostility toward Israel, with large Islamic and anti-United States voting blocks, showing them to be a biased source of information.

Calling Israel an “apartheid regime” is incorrect; Arab citizens in Israel have equal rights, vote, and serve in parliament. Accusations of genocide lack proven intent, as Israel explicitly targets Hamas, not civilians, while operating in heavily populated cities. Israel warns Palestinians to leave battle areas before they attack. Hamas tells or forces citizens to stay in war areas and operates in and under major cities.

A complex international conflict cannot be reduced to a one-sided resolution. This motion will not bring peace abroad, but it will bring division and financial strain to Easthampton.

Neil Brick

Easthampton