One Sydney council has raised the Palestinian flag, amid claims the move is ‘callous’
Key Points
- A southwest Sydney council has become the first council to unanimously vote to fly the Palestinian flag.
- A different Sydney council earlier this week back-flipped on its decision to fly the flag.
- A representative of Australia’s Jewish community has labelled the move “callous and irresponsible”.
The move comes as a different Sydney council earlier this week reversed its decision to fly the Palestinian flag.
“This motion was moved unanimously in council last night (Tuesday), with several councillors sharing words of sympathy for the Palestinian people,” he told SBS News.
Canterbury-Bankstown councillor Khodr Saleh said the motion to raise the Palestinian flag passed easily, with support of the mayor and unanimous support of city council members. Source: Supplied / Facebook
The flag-raising on Wednesday coincided with Global Dignity Day, which highlights the importance of kindness, understanding, tolerance and compassion, and aims to educate and inspire young people to better understand their self-worth.
‘Callous and irresponsible’
“This is a time for supporters of the Palestinian cause to reflect on what this movement (Hamas) is really about.”
“That people at any level of government takes a stance gives us assurance,” he said.
‘Uncomfortable with the Palestinian flag’
“The large Jewish community in the Randwick LGA who do feel uncomfortable with the Palestinian flag flying on top of the Randwick Town Hall,” Randwick Councillor Daniel Rosenfeld explained.
The attack, the worst in Israel’s history, prompted a ferocious Israeli bombardment of the Palestinian territory, which Gaza’s Hamas-controlled health ministry says has killed more than 5,790 people.
A man helps an injured man to walk outside a hospital in Gaza. Israeli airstrikes have resulted in the deaths of over 5,000 civilians in Gaza, including 2,000 children. Source: Getty / Youssef Alzanoun/Middle East Images/AFP
Israeli air strikes have hit housing blocks, tunnels, hospitals, a mosque and homes of Hamas officials in Gaza.
Albanese said Australia recognises Israel’s “right to defend itself”.
https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/one-sydney-council-has-raised-the-palestinian-flag-others-claims-the-move-is-callous/zi8e3yt04 One Sydney council has raised the Palestinian flag, amid claims the move is ‘callous’
