Johnson County, Iowa passed a CEASEFIRE resolution on February 1, 2024


RESOLUTION FOR CEASEFIRE IN THE PALESTINIAN WEST BANK, GAZA, THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND THE MIDDLE EAST

WHEREAS, we, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors recognize, celebrate, and defend the human rights of every person; and

WHEREAS, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors acknowledges the events in Israel and the Palestinian Occupied Territories, now spilling into the greater Middle East, since 7 October 2023 as well as prior to that date; and

WHEREAS, disbursements of United States foreign aid, a portion of which is funded by Johnson County residents’ taxes, are governed by domestic and international law; and

WHEREAS, an immediate ceasefire, return of those unlawfully detained and recommitment to a political, not martial, solution is the only durable and feasible path out of the present crisis.

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS THAT Johnson County calls for:

  1. An immediate and permanent ceasefire in the Middle East, including but not limited to Hamas and Israel, and those regional militias and states that sponsor said militias; and

  2. Express Congressional authorization of any military action in the region, including Bab- el-Mandeb (the Gate of Grief); and

  3. Direct Congressional oversight of all military aid from the United States Government, especially the consistent application of humanitarian restrictions upon such aid; and,

  4. The timely and safe return of all unlawfully detained by any party; and,

  5. The immediate and unconditional provision of humanitarian aid to Palestinians in Gaza; and,

  6. A multinational strategy for the rebuilding of Gaza and the safe return of all displaced Palestinians; and,

  7. The protection of our First Amendment rights to protest, to criticize government, while affirming the criticism of the governments of Israel and Palestine is not inherently anti- Semitic or anti-Arab; and,

  8. A commitment to fight antisemitism, Islamophobia, and bigotry toward Palestinians, Arabs, and Israelis in all forms.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the Auditor is authorized and directed to publish this resolution in the usual manner but also to cause a copy of this resolution to be delivered to:

  1. Johnson County’s delegation to the Iowa House and Iowa Senate;

  2. The Speaker of the Iowa House of Representatives;

  3. The President of the Iowa Senate;

  4. Johnson County’s US congressional representative; and 5

  5. Iowa’s US senators; and

  6. the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

  7. the President of the Senate; and

  8. the President of the United States.