Olivia Chow skips Israeli flag raising event as ‘it’s a bit divisive’

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An Israeli flag elevating ceremony to mark the nation’s independence on Tuesday was not attended by Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, who referred to as the occasion “divisive” in a press release.

Yom Ha’atzmaut (Israel’s Independence Day) falls from sunset on Could 13 to sunset on Could 14. In recognition of the occasion, Toronto metropolis councillors gathered to lift the Israeli flag at Metropolis Corridor on Tuesday morning as is custom, however Chow opted to not take part.

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A press release from the Mayor’s workplace to Nationwide Publish confirmed Chow’s absence on the flag elevating occasion and a subsequent ceremony. Talking with reporters on Tuesday morning, audio of which was shared with the Publish, Chow mentioned the choice to not attend was not hers.

“The choice shouldn’t be mine, you recognize, metropolis council, metropolis protocol workplace was delegated the facility to run the flag elevating program in 1999,” she mentioned, including that she “typically” doesn’t attend flag elevating occasions.

“I feel it’s a bit divisive, as a result of there’s a struggle happening within the Center East and persons are protesting each weekend,” she mentioned. When questioned additional in regards to the divisiveness of the occasion, Chow elaborated, “Sure, it’s, as a result of it’s fairly clear there’s been demonstrations since October each weekend and feelings are very excessive. And I feel it’s vital that we hear one another and be empathetic.”

Criticism was swift on social media after an electronic mail from the mayor’s workplace was shared late on Monday night time. The e-mail famous that the “Mayor didn’t resolve to fly the flag, and doesn’t have the authority to approve or deny flag elevating requests.”

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“The Mayor is not going to attend the flag elevating. She believes elevating it’s divisive right now, and understands the deep ache and anguish felt by many locally,” reads the assertion, which was additionally despatched to the Publish by the mayor’s workplace.

The assertion was shared extensively on X, previously Twitter, together with by lawyer and Toronto Solar columnist Warren Kinsella who honed in on the Mayor’s use of the term “divisive.”

“Honest is honest. No extra Palestinian flags displayed at protests and rallies. As a result of that’s ‘divisive,” Kinsella posted to X Tuesday morning.

“There are Israeli flags on properties throughout Toronto, which has a giant Jewish inhabitants. Does Chow need them torn down as a result of they’re ‘divisive?’” he added.

In Ottawa, the ceremony was initially cancelled resulting from safety considerations amid the continued struggle between Israel and Hamas. Town later changed course, permitting the Jewish Federation of Ottawa to carry a small ceremony in a personal occasion.

The flag was raised early Tuesday morning, a couple of hours earlier than an anti-Israel rally occurred at Ottawa Metropolis Corridor.

Since 2007, town, along with World Affairs Canada, has raised the flags of greater than 190 nations with which Canada has diplomatic relations to mark their nationwide days of celebration or independence.

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Town acknowledged it could fly Israel’s flag, however and not using a public ceremony.

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When requested if cancelling the flag elevating was ever an possibility in Toronto, Mayor Chow mentioned no, citing the 1999 coverage.

“Neither myself or any metropolis councillors has the fitting to say sure or no to a flag elevating,” she mentioned. “We might change the coverage and convey it again to a political determination reasonably than delegating it to town protocol workplace however that may require a council determination.”

Chow added that she’s not in favour of creating that change as she noticed “far an excessive amount of time debating which international locations ought to or shouldn’t be capable of elevate the flags” as a councillor.

“I feel it’s higher to have the Protocol Workplace make choices primarily based on World Canada pointers,” she added.

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