HomeMy WebLinkAboutReso 2020-3034 RESOLUTION NO. 2020 - 303-
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF SUNNY
ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA,DENOUNCING THE BOYCOTT DIVESTMENT
AND SANCTIONS MOVEMENT; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE
WHEREAS, the City of Sunny Isles Beach ("City") strongly opposes the practice of
economic discrimination and boycotts of persons and/or entities on the basis of race, color,
religion, gender or national origin; and
WHEREAS,the United States Constitution protects the rights of United States citizens to
articulate political views, including with respect to the policies of the United States or foreign
governments; and
WHEREAS, American policy has long sought to bring peace to the Middle East and
recognized that both the Israeli and Palestinian people should be able to live in safe and sovereign
states, free from fear and violence, with mutual recognition; and
WHEREAS, the Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement ("BDS
Movement") targeting Israel is a campaign that does not favor a two-state solution and that seeks
to exclude the State of Israel and the Israeli people from the economic, cultural, and academic life
of the rest of the world; and
WHEREAS,the founder of the BDS Movement, Omar Barghouti, has denied the right of
the Jewish people in their homeland, saying, "We oppose a Jewish state in any part of Palestine.
No Palestinian, rational Palestinian, not a sell-out Palestinian, will ever accept a Jewish state in
Palestine."; and
WHEREAS, the BDS Movement targets not only the Israeli government but also Israeli
academic,cultural,and civil society institutions,as well as individual Israeli citizens of all political
persuasions, religions, and ethnicities, and in some cases even Jews of other nationalities who
support Israel; and
WHEREAS,the BDS Movement does not recognize,and many of its supporters explicitly
deny, the right of the Jewish people to national self-determination; and
WHEREAS, university-based BDS efforts violate the core goals of the university and
global cultural development, which thrive on free and open exchange and debate, and in some
cases, leads to the intimidation and harassment of Jewish students and others who support Israel;
and
WHEREAS, the BDS Movement promotes principles of collective guilt, mass
punishment, and group isolation, which are destructive of prospects for progress towards peace
and a two-state solution; and
WHEREAS,boycotts and similar tools aimed at promoting racial justice and social change
have been used effectively in the United States, South Africa, and other parts of the world,
however, the BDS Movement targeting Israel is not about promoting coexistence, civil rights, and
political reconciliation but about questioning and undermining the very legitimacy of the country
and its people; and
R2020 Denouncing BDS Page 1 of 3
WHEREAS, the City of Sunny Isles Beach supports a two-state solution wherein Israelis
and Palestinians live side-by-side peacefully; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Commission wish to denounce the BDS Movement as
an anti-Semitic attempt to delegitimize Israel.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF SUNNY ISLES BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Incorporation of Recitals. The foregoing recital paragraphs are hereby ratified and
confirmed as being true and the same are hereby made part of this Resolution.
Section 2. Denouncing BDS Movement. The Mayor and City Commission hereby oppose and
denounce the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions Movement targeting Israel, including efforts to
target United States companies that are engaged in commercial activities that are legal under
United States law, and all efforts to delegitimize the State of Israel.
Section 3. Affirming First Amendment Rights. The Mayor and City Commission hereby
affirm the Constitutional right of United States citizens to free speech,including the right to protest
or criticize the policies of the United States or foreign governments.
Section 4. Effective Date. This Resolution shall become effective upon passage.
PASSED AND ADOPTED on this 16th day o s uary 2020.
George ". Scholl, Mayor
AT I ST,
ler
Ma 'cio Be :; cur, CMC, City Clerk
' 1}r
ryt F'.
R2020 Denouncing BDS Page 2 of 3
APPROVED AS TO FORM
AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
Edward A. Dion, City Attorney
Moved by: UMN/IIS�(c\lt, -COL {J
Seconded by: VI c,C *foe &/€,G140
Vote:
Mayor Scholl (Yes) (No)
Vice Mayor Svechin (Yes) (No)
Commissioner Goldman 1i (Yes) (No)
Commissioner Lama ✓ (Yes) (No)
Commissioner Viscarra (Yes) (No)
82020 Denouncing BDS Page 3 of 3
Sil,4�Y !Fs.
City of Sunny Isles Beach
0 ,� s " @� 18070 Collins Avenue
! x Sunny Isles Beach, Florida 33160
.* ,4%..,1-.i. 4.
r �:
it °9� Lo�\° ,wF (305)947-0606 City Hall
•
�`r*or su'
�o (305)949-3113 Fax
MEMORANDUM
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Commission
FROM: George H. Scholl, Mayor
DATE: 1/16/2020
RE: Denouncing the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions
Movement
RECOMMENDATION:
0 This resolution is presented for your consideration.
REASONS:
The Global Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement ("BDS
v ment targeting Israel is a campaign that does not favor a two-
state
g g
state solution and that seeks to exclude the State of Israel and the
Israeli people from the economic, cultural, and academic life of the rest
of the world. The BDS Movement targets not only the Israeli
government but also Israeli academic, cultural, and civil society
institutions, as well as individual Israeli citizens of all political
persuasions, religions, and ethnicities, and in some cases even Jews
of other nationalities who support Israel. It promotes principles of
collective guilt, mass punishment, and group isolation, which are
destructive of prospects for progress towards peace and a two-state
solution.
As a City, we support a two-state solution wherein Israelis and
Palestinians live side-by-side peacefully, and denounce the BDS
Movement as an anti-Semitic attempt to de-legitimize Israel.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
0 Resolution
201
I