West Lafayette rejects Gaza ceasefire resolution

After months of pressure, council members say it’s not their role to weigh in on war. Plus, West Lafayette ‘Jeopardy’ champ keeps rolling. Judge rejects motion to step down in Delphi murder case

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WEST LAFAYETTE COUNCIL REJECTS GAZA CEASEFIRE RESOLUTION

A resolution calling for a ceasefire, release of hostages and more humanitarian aid in Gaza was rejected Monday by West Lafayette City Council members who told an overflow crowd at city hall that the war and how it was going to be settled was out of their purview.

The 5-2 vote against the measure followed three months of increasing pressure and hours of public comment, starting in March, from community members who contended that the city’s voice combined with similar resolutions in more than 100 communities could persuade U.S. officials to do more to end the war.

(Photo: Dave Bangert)

Kathy Parker, vice president on the all-Democratic city council, said ahead of her vote that she didn’t believe anyone on the council or in the room was rooting against a ceasefire in the war. She also said she was concerned about reports in the community of rising antisemitism and Islamophobia since the start of a war initiated when Hamas attacked Israel and escalated during months of counterattacks by Israel. More than 35,000 people have been killed, according to the Ministry of Health in Gaza.

“This has been a very difficult time for me, and I’ve thought about it almost constantly,” Parker said. “My concern is that if we set this precedent that our scope of business will be taken to heights that are not in our realm.”