Ceasefire vote narrowly passes Chicago City Council, revealing deep divisions among Democrats

CHICAGO — The Chicago City Council approved a pro-ceasefire resolution in dramatic fashion on Wednesday, underscoring that the Israel-Hamas conflict is still causing deep divisions in the Democratic party.

The vote, which was delayed by an hour due to disruptions from protesters supporting the resolution, was so close that Mayor Brandon Johnson had to break the tie in favor of the measure. Its passage made Chicago the largest city in the country to call for an end to the conflict.

The resolution was non-binding, but the rancorous meeting reveals that the war in Gaza remains a fissure among Democrats — and one that's unlikely to abate as the election year gets underway. Detroit, San Francisco and Atlanta city councils have also approved ceasefire resolutions.

Alderperson Debra Silverstein, who is the only Jewish member of the council, criticized the resolution's supporters for going against Biden’s foreign policy strategy, especially ahead of the convention coming to Chicago.

“Chicago, America’s third-largest city, should not vote to strip away President Biden’s control over U.S. foreign policy, especially not as we are inviting him here for the Democratic National Convention,” she said.

Biden himself has been shouted down by pro-Palestinian protesters at unrelated campaign events in recent months, and was dogged by pro-Palestinian protesters in Chicago recently.

Chicago and the surrounding Cook County area are home to the largest Palestinian population in the country and the nearby Bridgeview community is known as Little Palestine. The Chicago area is also home to a large Jewish population. That combined, has added to Chicago being a hotbed of tension over the Middle East.

Supporters of the ceasefire see it as an