Sutcliffe ‘disappointed’ that Israeli flag-raising ceremony at City Hall is canceled

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Mayor Mark Sutcliffe says he is “disappointed” that there will be no official ceremony at City Hall next Tuesday, when the City of Ottawa raises the blue and white flag of Israel to mark Israel Day. Israeli independence.

Since 2007, the city, in collaboration with Global Affairs Canada, has regularly flown the flags of more than 190 countries with which Canada maintains diplomatic relations to mark their national days of celebration or independence. The flag raising is usually accompanied by a special ceremony and other activities.

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On Tuesday, however, the city announced that it had canceled any official ceremony to hand over the Israeli flag after consulting with police and other “stakeholders” due to security fears related to the ongoing war in Gaza. Pro-Palestinian protesters have marched weekly in the capital, while pro-Palestinian encampments have sprung up at the University of Ottawa and other universities around the world.

The war between Israel and Hamas began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas launched a sustained attack on Israel from the Gaza Strip. As of April 24, more than 35,000 people – 34,262 Palestinians and 1,410 Israelis – are believed to have been killed in the conflict, according to a Wikipedia timeline.

The decision to forgo Ottawa’s usual flag ceremonies “is based on recent intelligence suggesting that hosting a public ceremony poses a significant risk to public safety,” a city memo said.

“The city must prioritize the safety of its residents, visitors and employees. Therefore, this year’s commemoration will take place without the usual ceremony. The decision reflects a commitment to protecting the well-being of all Ottawa residents, while respecting the principles of inclusion and respect for diplomatic relations,” the text adds.

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“I am very disappointed that the flag-raising ceremony to commemorate Israel’s Independence Day has been canceled, for the first time, due to safety and security concerns,” Sutcliffe said in a statement released Wednesday. morning, adding that he had spoken with Ottawa. the police and the Ottawa Jewish Federation regularly for several days.

“The Jewish community is a vital and important part of our city. Members of Ottawa’s Jewish community have faced a significant increase in anti-Semitism, threats and hostility over the past seven months. Although the Israeli flag will still fly at City Hall on May 14, as it has every year since 2007, and, as the city does for more than 190 countries with which Canada maintains diplomatic relations, this will be another blow to the Jewish community that the customary ceremony will not take place due to escalating threats and hostility.

“Our shared priority must continue to be the safety of all Ottawa residents. Let us come together to support our friends and neighbors in the Jewish community and eradicate hatred and racism in all its forms.

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