I am appalled and disgusted with plans to raise the Palestinian flag at Toronto City Hall on November 17th.
Toronto is not the first city to raise a Palestinian flag, and it is highly unlikely that it will be the last. This past May, the Palestinian flag was raised at city hall in Providence, Rhode Island. As I wrote at the time, "When one raises a Palestinian flag in front of a government building, it means the endorsement of the destruction of Israel, and by extension, the Jewish people."
Raising the Palestinian flag also violates Toronto's prohibition of flying flags which "promote hatred, violence or racism." Alas, none of this seems to matter to Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow who accused Israel of genocide earlier this month. Mind you, when Israel's flag was raised over City Hall in May 2024, Chow skipped the event calling it "divisive." If Chow attends the raising of the Palestinian flag it will remove all doubt as to how she views Jews.
Shortly after Chow accused Israel of genocide, the pro-Hamas Students for Justice in Palestine violently crashed a pro-Israel event at Toronto Metropolitan University breaking glass and injuring several students. Chow's statements no doubt emboldened these violent acts.
It must be remembered that Toronto has Canada's largest Jewish community. But then again if New York City, with the world's second largest Jewish population, can elect an anti-Semitic Mayor then can we really be surprised by what is going on in Toronto?
As with New York City, I have family in Toronto and shudder to think what could soon follow. Whatever happens, Toronto's Jews must stand up and say no. As Rabbi Hillel said, "If I am not for myself then who is for me?"
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