Hamtramck approves resolution to divest from Israel

The city of Hamtramck has become the first municipality in Michigan to support divestment from Israel, a move supporters touted as historic that comes amid growing outrage in metro Detroit's Arab American and Muslim communities.

Hamtramck City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to approve a resolution that requires the city to avoid investing in Israeli and other companies supporting "Israeli apartheid," and also to ban buying goods from vendors who have ties to Israel's attacks against Palestinians and are targeted by the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement. Hamtramck, which has the highest percentage of immigrants among cities in Michigan, has the only City Council whose members are all Muslim.

Supporters say it's a historic move they hope will bring more attention to Israel's attacks, but it's unclear how the resolution may be implemented and whether it clashes with a 2017 state law opposing divestment from Israel. For now, the city does not have a specific plan of action to end any investments or purchases, said city officials.

Hamtramck City Manager Max Garbarino told the Free Press after the vote that "we're going to use our best efforts to divest. As things arise ... we'll tackle them." But he added the city has limited staffing and so may not have the time and resources to do a thorough review of all their investments.

Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib told the Free Press Wednesday the vote means that "for now, the city will do its best to refrain from buying, investing or contracting with companies that support the Israeli genocide."

In strong language during the council meeting, some councilmen blasted Israel as a terrorist state, accusing it of committing genocide against Palestinians.

"As Americans ... we are supporting the terrorist people to kill innocent kids," Mayor Pro Tem and Councilman Mohammed Hassan said of Israel at the meeting before the vote. "I'm calling them terrorists."

The resolution states that the city "in all its procurement activities, shall make all best efforts to refrain from purchasing goods and services from any vendor that is the target of a boycott or divestment campaign by the BDS movement" and to "make all best efforts to refrain investment in the State of Israel and all Israeli and international companies that sustain Israeli apartheid."

In 2017, Gov. Rick Snyder signed into law a bill that prevents public contracts with anyone who supports divestment from or boycotting "a strategic partner" of the U.S. The phrase "strategic partner" applies to Israel and similar nations, the bill's sponsors have said. A message was sent to the office of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer seeking comment on whether that 2017 law may apply to Hamtramck's new resolution.

The resolution was passed a few days after Israel's attacks in Rafah further angered opponents of Israel.

"Most of the American people are against the war," Hamtramck Mayor Amer Ghalib said at the meeting before the council voted. "But our government, of course, does not listen to the concern of the people. It seems like we are ruled by a minority in this country, and that's a problem. The voice of the people is not being heard. We elect people, but those people then get supported by some special interest group and they don't express the opinions ... of people."

The resolution was approved 4-0. Two members of the 6-member council, Khalil Refai and Muhtasin Sadman, were not at the meeting.

Two other cities in the U.S., Richmond and Hayward, both in California, voted earlier this year to divest from companies linked to Israel's mistreatment of Palestinians. Bill Meyer, a Hamtramck activist, said the Hamtramck resolution goes even further in using the language of the BDS movement.

The resolution is the latest expression of pro-Palestinian activism this month. Over the weekend, there was a 3-day conference at Huntington Place in downtown Detroit, People's Conference for Palestine, that organizers said drew thousands. The event largely involved left-wing and Socialist groups and drew some controversy for some speakers who are members or supporters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), a group the U.S. government labels as a terrorist organization. U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib, D-Detroit, spoke at the conference, blasting President Joe Biden for supporting what she said was genocide.

Last week, a tent encampment calling for divestment from Israel was set up at Wayne State University in Detroit. Tlaib and Majority Floor Leader State Rep. Abraham Aiyash, D-Hamtramck, and Muslim clerics have appeared at the encampment to show their support.

Tuesday's council vote is the latest move by the Hamtramck council that is drawing national attention.

In January 2022, the Hamtramck City Council approved resolutions condemning antisemitism targeting Jewish people, women who wear Islamic headscarves, hijabs, and hate against Bosnian Muslims. In January 2023, the Hamtramck council approved a resolution to allow animal sacrifices at home for Islamic holidays. In March that year, the council approved a resolution supporting Palestinians. In June 2023, the council approved a resolution banning LGBTQ+ flags and some other flags from city property. And in December, they approved renaming Holbrook Avenue as Palestine Avenue.

In his remarks, Hassan warned supporters of Israel that newer immigrant communities in the U.S. will eventually change policies supporting Israel. He railed against the U.S. invasion of Iraq, saying what's happening in Gaza is similar.

"America is the country of immigrants," Hassan said. "Even the president, Joe Biden, your generation came from somewhere else. ... We have the same power in the USA, and you know the math ... think about it, after 50 years, who is going to control the United States? If you're not getting educated enough from today, I will make you educated after 50 years."

Councilman Abu Musa said Israel was committing genocide against innocent people and Councilman Muhith Mahmood said, "We cannot have our taxpayers' money used to kill people."

Contact Niraj Warikoo: [email protected] or X @nwarikoo

A full copy of the Hamtramck resolution passed by its council on May 28, 2023, supporting divestment from Israel is below:

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Hamtramck council approves resolution supporting Israel divestment