Though perhaps not in an altogether good way. Here are a few typical examples:
Palestinian News Network: “Durham Becomes First US City to Ban Police Exchanges with Israel.”
Al Jazeera: “Durham first US city to ban police training with Israeli military.”
Telesur (Venezuela’s state sponsored news network): “Durham 1st US City to Ban Police Training with Israeli Army.”
If you’re wondering what inspired the Durham City Council to take this ground-breaking step and win the approval of pro-Palestinian organizations all over the world, WRAL has the details:
The [decision] is the result of a petition created by the group Demilitarize! Durham2Palestine, which called on the City Council to “immediately halt any partnerships that the Durham Police Department has or might enter into with the Israeli Defense Forces and/or the Israel Police.” …
“The petition started out of the realization that the police, throughout the US, have been creating exchanges between here and other military forces, namely Israel,” Duke Univesity senior Jazmynne Williams explained. “We’ve witnessed a lot of police brutality in both locations. I feel like these exchanges only do so much to trade the worst practices of both the U.S. and Israeli military forces.” …
Proponents of the petition claim that Israeli tactics promote racial bias and militarization of police. …
Fifty people signed up to speak about the statement at Monday night’s meeting and were given two minutes each to state their opinions and arguments to council members. …
“I hope this spreads,” Hillsborough resident Debra Rosenstein told the council during her turn at the podium. “Because all of us who care about fighting racism, and all of us who care about trying to have democracy maintained or exist in this country — we need to not have militarized police forces.” …
Others saw the petition as a display of antisemitic feelings.
“It very clearly is anti-Israel,” said Dr. Bob Gutman, a co-chair of Voice for Israel. “It’s very personally offensive. I have a large family in Israel, and I visit frequently … They are using this false flag as a way of getting Durham to pass a petition that defames Israel, so they can show it around the United States and get other cities to do the same.” …
After the City Council heard from the 50 residents of Durham and nearby cities and towns, [Mayor Steve] Schewel invited members to speak. …
One by one, each council member expressed his or her support for the petition. Councilwoman Vernetta Alston was absent for the meeting, due to what Schewel cited as a flight delay.
As a Durham resident and a Durham taxpayer, I’m inclined to agree with a statement by one of the residents who spoke at the meeting: “This entire discussion is much ado about nothing. We wonder why the City Council feels the need to take up a position on this. There are real problems facing this city.”
