Boston city councilor who criticized Gaza cease-fire vote files pro-Jewish resolution

A Boston city councilor who voted against a cease-fire resolution criticized by Jewish groups for being one-sided in failing to condemn the Hamas terror attack is asking his colleagues to denounce antisemitism and declare support for local Jews.

Ed Flynn, a supporter of Israel who joined fellow moderate Erin Murphy in voting against a measure put forward by Tania Fernandes Anderson last week that declared the majority progressive body’s support for a cease-fire in Gaza, has filed a resolution for Wednesday’s meeting, “denouncing acts of antisemitism.”

“We have seen a disturbing rise in antisemitism, neo-Nazism, and hate crimes locally and across the country over the last several years, especially after the terrorist attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7,” Flynn said in a Monday statement to the Herald. “We have Jewish neighbors who are now afraid for their safety.

“Now, more than ever, it is critical that we stand up for our Jewish neighbors, continue to denounce antisemitism, and any hate speech or crime.”

The resolution was filed during what is recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month, and petitions the City Council to “recognize and celebrate the many contributions that Jewish Americans bring to our city and country.”

It cites statistics from the Anti-Defamation League, that show, since the Oct. 7 Hamas terror attack on Israel that killed more than 1,200 Israelis, recognized as the worst massacre of Jews since the Holocaust, New England has seen a dramatic rise in antisemitic incidents.

There have been 623 reported incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism, which represents a 205% increase from 2022 and the highest number since the ADL began tracking those statistics four decades ago, the resolution states.

While Flynn insists his resolution is not in response to the cease-fire measure adopted by the City Council last week, it comes on the heels of criticism he and the Jewish community have directed at that vote.

The ADL and Jewish Community Relations Council criticized the City Council’s cease-fire language for being “one-sided,” and failing to condemn the Oct. 7 terrorist attack, acknowledge that it sparked the war, or identify Hamas as a terrorist organization.

Israel’s retaliatory bombing has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza.

The Herald was told city councilors had been debating adding language about the Hamas terror attack in the text of the cease-fire resolution, but were pressured by progressive groups to not include that language in the final draft.

After his ‘no’ vote last week, Flynn mentioned the measure’s failure to condemn the terror attack and said, “The City Council is not the place to debate and vote on divisive and controversial international issues.”

Notably, however, the city’s only Jewish councilor, Benjamin Weber, said the approved resolution, while not perfect, “represents an important step towards reconciliation and shared acknowledgement within both the Jewish and Palestinian communities here in Boston.”