Israeli flag flies in front of City Hall for last time
May 14—WATERTOWN — For the past 46 years, members of the local Jewish community have come together to raise the Israeli flag in front of City Hall on the day to celebrate that country's independence.
On a sunny spring day Tuesday, they gathered in front of City Hall to commemorate Israel's independence for the last time.
Last week, the City Council voted to stop allowing flag raisings in front of the municipal building.
That's why raising the Israeli flag has more meaning this year as a war between Israel and Hamas rages on, said Mary Tucker, president of the Degel Israel Synagogue on Thompson Boulevard.
"I think it's sad because we've been doing this since 1978," she said.
About a dozen watched, as Degel congregation member Neil Katzman raised the flag on Tuesday. The congregation was given approval to honor the Nation of Israel on the 76th anniversary of its independence back in March.
In recent days, the Biden Administration has become more critical of Israel's intensified attacks on Hamas in northern Gaza and worked for a cease fire.
After having conversations with City Manager Eric Wagenaar about it, Mayor Sarah V.C. Pierce thought it would be best for the city not to support either side in the war, so it was the right time to end the flag raisings, she said.
In the past several weeks, the war has become the subject of protests at dozens of universities across the country that have come out against the war that has left 34,000 people in Gaza dead. Some Jewish students say the protests have veered into anti-Semitism and made them afraid to set foot on campus.
On Tuesday, Tucker led the small group of people in front of City Hall in the singing of Israel's national anthem and a prayer for Jewish and Palestinian children to live in peace.
"I'm just glad it was peaceful with what we're seeing across the country," Pierce said. "I'm just glad it was a safe event."
Last week, council members agreed to allow the flag raisings for Israel and next month for celebrations for the LGBQT+ and Juneteenth communities because they already had been approved.
After they take place, the flag raisings will be prohibited. Only the U.S., New York and POW-MIA flags will be allowed to be flown in front of City Hall.
But Tucker worries that the city will become "more restrictive" in showing support for Israel in the future.
"To me, I can understand the city, but what about showing our heritage after the war," she said.
Pierce said the city and city representatives will continue to participate in those kind of events, but they will no longer be held on city property.
Juneteenth celebrates the end of slavery in the United States. The Juneteenth committee will hold a weekend of events to celebrate.
The LBGTQ+ community will raise the Gay Pride flag on June 15.
