CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Tuesday night, there was an emotional debate during the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners meeting over the Israel-Hamas War.
The county board passed a resolution supporting Israel and condemning the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attack. The vote garnered both praise and concern from people in the crowd.
"It’s a sad day that this is happening, a very sad day," one man yelled as he left the meeting chambers. "Free Palestine," others started chanting.
Several people in the crowded room were visibly outraged by the unanimous vote to approve the resolution.
"The present resolution represents exactly the kind of situational misrepresentation and moral misalignment that caused this current escalation and violence," Charlotte resident Danya Nafeh said to commissioners.
The resolution reads in part:
“The residents and employees of Mecklenburg County are deeply concerned about the escalating violence, loss of life, and the impacts of this terror attack on innocent civilians.”
People in Charlotte’s Jewish community shared support for the vote at the meeting, including Rabbi Judy Schindler.
"A second cousin of mine was murdered at the outdoor concert along with the 1,300 Israelis who were brutally killed,” Schindler shared. She thanked the board for writing in the resolution that Israel, "has a right to protect its citizens and itself.”
However, many others argued the resolution was reckless and ignores Palestinians’ struggles.
“Israel is not innocent," Nafeh said. "Israeli policies have brought violent resistance upon its own people.”
After listening to people speak both for and against the resolution, county commissioners tried explaining their intent behind it.
“Certainly, I understand apartheid," Commissioner Arthur Griffin said. "I understand racism, but this is about what occurred October the 7th without ignoring the human rights of the Palestinian people.”
Many speakers and commissioners acknowledged innocent people are suffering on both sides of the war. Some argued the Mecklenburg County resolution should be amended to explicitly include Palestinians, but the board kept it as is.
Several other local governments including Chicago and Miami-Dade have passed similar resolutions in support of Israel. The North Carolina General Assembly did the same last week but 12 House Democrats walked out in protest.
Contact Julia Kauffman at jkauffman@wcnc.com and follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.