My Word | Why I oppose the proposed sister city relationship between Arcata and Gaza – Times-Standard

By Tamar Krigel

I strongly oppose the City of Arcata establishing a Sister City relationship with Gaza City. While some may see this initiative as an act of international goodwill, such an initiative will further deepen the already alarming levels of hostility and divisiveness in society and will undoubtedly further increase the antisemitism that has reared its ugly head since 10/7/2023.

A Sister City partnership is a formal agreement between two cities, usually signed by each municipality’s highest elected or appointed official. If Arcata were to make such an agreement with Gaza, it would require signing an agreement with a representative of Gaza’s governing authority. Since Hamas has controlled Gaza since 2006, any Gazan official would, by definition, be a representative of Hamas, a group officially designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and many other countries.

This situation poses a legal dilemma. Under U.S. law, specifically 18 USC § 2339B, it is a federal crime to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. This means that any resources, funds or assistance Arcata may provide as part of this Sister City agreement may be deemed illegal.

However serious the legal concerns, the moral consequences are far more troubling. A partnership with Gaza City links Arcata to an organization whose founding charter explicitly envisions the genocide of the Jews: “The hour of judgment will not come unless the Muslims fight and kill the Jews, unless the Jews hide behind trees and stones. Every tree and every stone will say: ‘O Muslim, ‘O servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.’”

Tragically, Hamas’s brutal attack on Israel on October 7 showed in the most painful way that these are not abstract words, but directives put into practice. Any involvement by Arcata with Hamas would be to legitimize an organization whose primary goal is the destruction of Jews. It would be morally reprehensible.

What message will this send to Arcata’s Jewish residents? How would they feel if they knew their tax dollars could be used to support a group determined to destroy them? To ask this question is to answer it; This is irrational and cruel.

Proponents of this proposal point to Boulder, Colorado, which has a Sister City relationship with Nablus on the West Bank. But this comparison is erroneous. The Palestinian Authority administers Nablus and is not designated a terrorist organization by the United States. More importantly, the Palestinian Authority has never declared it its mission to exterminate Jews.

Sister City relationships need to be based on mutual benefit and cooperation, that is, on strengthening the ties that bring people together for the common good. However, partnership with Gaza City will not be a balanced or mutually beneficial relationship. Instead, it will serve to legitimize a group that wages violent jihad against Israel and advocates the mass murder of Jews. This would send the message that the city of Arcata is prepared to turn a blind eye to Hamas’s oppression and the suffering it causes. October 7 is still fresh in our memories, and the thought that Arcata could embrace a terrorist organization during this period is deeply disturbing.

Moreover, the political climate in Arcata became increasingly polarized. Following the Hamas attack, we saw a rise in anti-Semitic incidents, with protests, boycotts, and even threats against local businesses. A Sister City agreement with Gaza City will only increase tensions and alienate Jews and other moderate residents.

We must also consider the broader context; Tragically, atrocities are committed by foreign governments in many ongoing global conflicts. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, for example, led to indiscriminate attacks on civilians, forced deportations, and other war crimes, but no one is suggesting Sister City relationships with cities in Russia. So why is Israel, an ally and democracy, the target of such harsh criticism? Because this is part of a larger, coordinated campaign to isolate and delegitimize Israel. Calls for “from river to sea” are not about peace, but about the destruction of the only Jewish state.

I urge Arcata leaders to reject this proposal and focus on efforts that promote true peace and constructive dialogue. The city of Arcata should represent unity, not division.

The decision facing our city is an important one, and I hope our leaders choose a path that reflects our shared values ​​of peace, mutual respect, and the protection of all people, regardless of their background.

Tamar Krigel is a Bayside resident.