City of Canterbury-Bankstown Votes to Fly Palestinian Flag

A Labor councillor put forward a motion to fly the flag at a local government administration building and park

Protesters wave flags in support of Palestinians in Los Angeles on Oct. 12, 2023. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

The City of Canterbury-Bankstown in Sydney’s southwest will fly the Palestinian flag at two locations until a “cease fire” is declared in the Hamas-run Gaza.

Councillor Karl Saleh, representing the Australian Labor Party, moved a motion “supporting peace in Gaza and Palestine” on Oct. 24.

The local government voted to fly the Palestinian flag at the Campsie administration building and a local community park in Bankstown—an area with a higher proportion of Middle-Eastern migrants.

In a motion (pdf) to Council, Cr Saleh moved: “That Council raise the Palestinian flag in support of the Palestinian people at both Bankstown’s Paul Keating park and Campsie Administration building until a cease-fire is declared in the current humanitarian disaster unfolding in Gaza.”

The Canterbury-Bankstown Council also voted to dedicate a space at a local park for the community to lay wreaths and flowers.

In addition, the motion provided support for the community to gather peacefully at Council public parks to “demonstrate their views in support of the Palestinian people”.

Not the ‘Australia We knew’

Responding to the move, the Australian Jewish Association (AJA) said “this is not the Australia we knew.”

“This is an area of Sydney where Muslims celebrated in the streets following the Hamas slaughter of Jewish civilians on Oct. 7,” the AJA said on X.

Meanwhile, Randwick Council in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has canned plans to fly the Palestinian flag on top of its Town Hall.

In an emergency general meeting on Oct. 23, Councillor Daniel Rosenfeld from the Liberal Party moved a motion (pdf) so that local authorities “do not fly the Palestinian flag on 29 November 2023 as it was passed at the June meeting to do so.”

“I consider the business to be of great urgency given the current war in Israel and the escalating rallying within Australia by pro-Palestinian people,” Cr. Rosenfeld said.

People with Israeli flags watch the Opera House while it is illuminated in blue to show solidarity with Israel in Sydney on October 9, 2023. (Photo by David GRAY / AFP) Photo by DAVID GRAY/AFP via Getty Images

Sydney Responds to Israel-Hamas Conflict

The latest drama at multiple Sydney councils follows pro-Palestine rallies held in front of the Opera House in early October.

A flag of Israel was stomped on in front of the iconic Opera House and protestors were heard yelling “gas the Jews.”

In response to this event, NSW Police launched Operation Shelter to manage future protests amid the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Meanwhile, the Coalition is calling on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to visit Israel on his way back from his trip to the United States.

As of Oct. 24, Mr. Albanese still had not spoken to Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu, however, he has spoken to the Israeli Ambassador to Australia on multiple occasions.

When questioned on whether he was “picking sides” the prime minister said, “We pick a side against Hamas.

“And we did that very clearly and unequivocally. Because the actions of Hamas are against the interests of both the Israeli population, clearly, but also against the interest of Palestinians.

“We support, as President Biden reaffirmed the United States, a support for a two-state solution.”