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Following almost seven hours of heated public comment on Tuesday, the City Council of San Marcos, Texas, voted 5-2 to reject a resolution that called for a boycott of Israel.
The resolution in question, proposed by Council Members Alyssa Garza and Amanda Rodriguez, had urged an “immediate and permanent ceasefire in occupied Palestine, an arms embargo on Israel, recognition of Palestinian sovereignty, and the protection of constitutional rights for all people under national and international law.”
In an April 29 letter to San Marcos Mayor Jane Hughson, Texas Governor Greg Abbott had threatened to terminate all state grants to San Marcos and forbid new ones if the resolution was approved.
“Israel is a stalwart ally of the United States and a friend to Texas,” Governor Abbott noted. “I have repeatedly made clear that Texas will not tolerate antisemitism. Anti-Israel policies are anti-Texas policies.”
Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Chief Government Affairs Officer Lisa Katz also penned a letter to Mayor Hughson last week, expressing “deep concern” over the resolution.
“The resolution reflects an inappropriate and divisive foray into complex foreign policy matters that fall well outside the scope of municipal governance,” Katz wrote. “At a time when cities are grappling with real, urgent challenges, including the rise of hate crimes and extremism, mayors and city councils should remain focused on building safe, and tolerant communities for all residents.”
