Submitted by San Juan County

The San Juan County Council unanimously adopted a proclamation calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in the war between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories during the first Council meeting of the year. This proclamation echoes the voices of residents who have sent hundreds of emails to the Council in the last few weeks, as well as those who gave public comment during the meeting, to share their concerns.

“The San Juan County Council, in the State of Washington, does hereby proclaim its full support for conflict resolution in the war between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories, and urgently calls on the Federal government to support all efforts to bring about an immediate and permanent cease fire and lasting peace between Israel and the Palestinians,” the proclamation states.

The proclamation also affirms the County’s commitment to upholding the Declaration of Community Values which states “we value a vibrant, inclusive, just, and diverse community that fosters peace, mutual tolerance, and respect for each other’s dignity, privacy, freedoms, and responsibilities.”

The public is encouraged to read the proclamation on the County’s website and below:

San Juan County Council Proclamation in support of Conflict Resolution and Peace between Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories

WHEREAS, the outbreak of war between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories since October 7, 2023 has resulted in the loss of tens of thousands of innocent lives on both sides of the conflict, with the predominant number of them being Palestinian women and children, and rendered the region of Gaza uninhabitable according to the United Nations due to the humanitarian crisis facing the civilian population; and

WHEREAS, the calls for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in this conflict are growing louder every day in local jurisdictions across the United States, including in the State of Washington, and in countries across the globe, as evidenced by the vote of 153 member countries of the United Nations General Assembly on December 12, 2023 in support of a ceasefire (Res. A/ES-10/L.27), “Protection of civilians and upholding legal and humanitarian obligations”. These urgent calls for a ceasefire have been heard locally by the San Juan County Council in recent weeks in the form of hundreds of emails sent by constituents to the County Council; and

WHEREAS, the San Juan County Council recognizes that its jurisdiction does not extend to state, federal or international affairs; and yet, as a locally elected government, the statements it makes in response to and on behalf of local constituents can elevate their calls for actions to Washington State and Federal elected officials; and

WHEREAS, the San Juan County Council governs in accordance with its Home Rule Charter, which secures the rights granted by law and the responsibilities of self-governance, and upholds the Declaration of Community Values contained in the Charter’s Preamble which states that as a County “we value a vibrant, inclusive, just, and diverse community that fosters peace, mutual tolerance, and respect for each other’s dignity, privacy, freedoms, and responsibilities”; and the values contained in the San Juan County Resolution (31-2020) Affirming Commitment to a Safe and Inclusive Community;

NOW, THEREFORE, the San Juan County Council, in the State of Washington, does hereby proclaim its full support for conflict resolution in the war between Israel and occupied Palestinian territories, and urgently calls on the Federal government to support all efforts to bring about an immediate and permanent cease fire and lasting peace between Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The foregoing proclamation was adopted by the San Juan County Council at a regularly scheduled meeting held on January 9, 2024.