Randwick Council votes to fly Palestinian flag
The Palestinian flag will be raised outside Randwick Town Hall on November 29 – the United Nations’ International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.
RANDWICK Council has voted to fly the Palestinian flag in November despite five Liberal members, including councillor Daniel Rosenfeld, opposing the move.
Greens councillor Kym Chapple put forward an amendment to the Flying of Flags Policy at last week’s general meeting, calling for the Palestinian flag to be raised outside Randwick Town Hall on November 29 – the United Nations’ International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people.
It follows Randwick Council’s decision to fly the Israeli flag on Yom Ha’atzmaut – a motion that was successfully introduced by Rosenfeld.
Chapple’s amendment was seconded by Labor councillor Kathy Nielson and supported by all councillors, with the exception of the five Liberal members. Rosenfeld went a step further and asked that his name be recorded as voting against the resolution, later telling The AJN that he did not support the proposal as “the Australian government currently does not recognise a Palestinian state”.
Following the council meeting Chapple tweeted her thanks to the Australian Palestine Advocacy Network and to Palestinian members of the local community for their “guidance” and “advocacy”, before ending her tweet with the hashtag “Free Palestine”.
The decision to fly the Israeli flag at Randwick Town Hall on April 26 to mark Israel’s 75th year of independence was protested by a handful of locals, with a Greens councillor also making a last-ditch, failed attempt to rescind the resolution.
At the time, the Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) congratulated Randwick City Council, particularly Randwick mayor Dylan Parker, for “standing firm” on flying the Israeli flag despite the backlash
“It will be a significant expression of support to see the Israeli flag flying atop Randwick Town Hall,” said AIJAC chairman Mark Leibler and executive director Colin Rubenstein.
“Once again, we are pleased that you and your council acknowledged the significance to the Jewish community of the occasion on April 26.”
The Israeli flag was raised outside Randwick Town Hall on Yom Ha’atzmaut.
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