Council Faces Backlash In Wayne Following Public Support Of Israel

WAYNE, NJ — The township council's decision to pass a resolution to stand with Israel back in December has come under fire this week, with members of the local Muslim community speaking out in person at Wednesday's public council meeting.

On Jan. 17, township council members sat for more than an hour, listening to Wayne residents express their disappointment with the council's decision and their concern for their Palestinian family, who were either killed or hurt in Israeli attacks on Gaza.

"Not only was I embarrassed, I was outraged," Maimoon Mustafa said. "Remember, we are here because this township has a record of fostering a wonderful environment for children. Why would they stand for such extreme violations of children's rights?"

Amanny Khattab, a school principal, told the council that she wakes up every day not knowing whether her loved ones survived the night.

"There is no way that you can't see the damage that is happening. As of Saturday, not one family member lives in a building anymore; they are all in tents," Khattab said. "I want you to know that, as of last week, there was a number that said 18 percent of Wayne is Muslim. We’re not going to be blind to what you guys just did. Palestinians are dying,” she said.

Khattab, along with other locals, urged the council to not "pick sides" and unanimously endorse a resolution to stand with the people of Palestine, calling for an immediate and sustainable ceasefire on behalf of the whole Wayne community.

"There are community members who are hurting. There are those who have been deeply affected by the human rights concerns of Palestinians in Gaza," Muhammad Rasheed said. "My family is from Gaza; there is not a day that goes by where I don't think of them. There is not a news article or a video that I watch where I don't think, 'Could that be them?' Do the right thing and stand up for human rights," Rasheed added.

Following the public comments, Councilman Michael Fattal, who is a first-generation Middle Easterner, said he empathized with the crowd.

"Any innocent life lost is too many lives lost," Fattal said. "I have goosebumps as I speak because there were just so many powerful words that were said tonight and it means a lot to me."

"The last thing I want to hear is that you don't feel safe in your community, and I heard that a few times tonight. I heard the passion of our residents that I could never understand because I'm not Palestinian," Mayor Chris Vergano said. "I don’t know if there’s anything we can do in this municipal chamber that will bring peace to the world, but we need to try to do something, and if any of us have hurt any of you, that was not anyone's intention."

Council President Jason DeStefano closed the council meeting with an apology.

"I stand by wanting to make this a better Wayne... I got heart rate notifications multiple times tonight, and I felt it in my face, hearing the speakers... Our intent was not to make you feel excluded and not safe with that resolution, and by doing so, we have. So, I apologize for making you feel that way," DeStefano said.

DeStefano stated that he had received examples of resolutions passed by other communities and plans to share them with his fellow council members and the township clerk's office in the coming days.

The council will also provide an update on a potential resolution at the next council meeting, which is scheduled for Feb. 7, and officially vote on it at a meeting on Feb. 21.