■The Kerman City Council tabled a resolution supporting a cease-fire in Gaza. It is scheduled to return March 27.

■Two councilmembers did not attend the meeting.

■Speakers still let the council know how they felt.

Because two councilmembers were absent, the Kerman City Council tabled Wednesday night a motion supporting the a cease-fire in Gaza.

The resolution would support a proclamation written by a Fresno pro-Palestinian activist calling for a cease-fire. While the proclamation calls for a return of hostages, it does not mention the two parties involved — Israel and Hamas. It also fails to mention the Oct. 7 Hamas terrorist attacks.

Councilmember Bill Nijjer told GV Wire that he was at a family wedding. Councilmember Gary Yep said he was in Sacramento attending a San Joaquin Policy Council meeting, representing the Fresno Council of Governments.

The remaining councilmembers — Mayor Maria Pacheco, Jennifer Coleman, and Ismael Herrera — tabled the resolution until March 27 to allow all members to attend.

Vietnam Veteran, a Holocaust Survivor, Speaks

Still, members of the public spoke about the resolution.

Vietnam veteran and Holocaust survivor Ephraim Hadjis opposed a cease-fire resolution.

“I am a veteran and my main concern is Americans are being held hostage. Before we could talk about anything about a release or a peace or anything, the veterans of the Americans have to come home. That’s all. We are taught a basic training that you leave no American behind,” Hadjis said.

No #Ceasefire_In_Gaza vote in Kerman tonight. Two councilmembers absent, so item delayed until 3/27. US Veteran and Holocaust survivor Ephraim Hadjis did speak in opposition to pic.twitter.com/7qpVGoQoQX

— David Taub (@TaubGVWire) March 14, 2024

A Kerman resident also spoke against a cease-fire.

Cease-fire supporters Layla Darwish and Matthew Gillian of Fresno attended but didn’t speak about the cease-fire.

Darwish did speak on another matter. As the council discussed murals in the city, Darwish asked if “Palestine can be represented.”

The council debated about including several ethnicities in the mural such as indigenous groups.

Because there was time sensitivity regarding grant money, the council reverted to the original item about the murals, awarding a contract as is to two artists.