Israeli flag to remain at Antwerp City Hall despite coalition divisions
The Israeli flag will once again be flown at Antwerp City Hall this summer, despite ongoing disagreement within the city’s governing coalition over the war in Gaza.
Mayor Els van Doesburg (N-VA) confirmed the decision during a city council meeting on Tuesday, stating that the existing flag protocol would remain in place “due to a lack of consensus” among coalition partners.
The issue has once again exposed tensions between coalition parties N-VA and Vooruit ahead of the annual summer display of flags on the façade of City Hall. For around 80 years, Antwerp has flown the flags of European Union member states alongside those of countries with diplomatic representation in the city.
The Israeli flag, traditionally included in that display, has become increasingly controversial since the outbreak of the war in Gaza. The flags are due to be raised on 15 June.
PVDA councillor Peter Mertens again called for the flag to be removed, arguing that “that flag does not belong on the facade of our city hall during the tourist season”.
“A lot has changed over the past year, but unfortunately not for the better,” he said, describing the flag as “a symbol of conflict” and its display as “a political signal of normalisation”.
Groen and CD&V also support removing the flag, while Kathleen Van Brempt, speaking on behalf of coalition partner Vooruit, urged the city to send a signal “that we support and understand all population groups in our city”. She referred to the violence in Gaza and the West Bank, as well as the EU-Israel association agreement, which is currently under review.
“We maintain that this flag has no place on the facade of the city hall,” Van Brempt said.
Vlaams Belang, meanwhile, argued that the Israeli flag should remain.
Diplomatic guidelines
Van Doesburg defended the decision by referring to the city’s existing protocol, which is based on diplomatic guidelines from Belgium’s Foreign Ministry. “A neutral framework has been developed that takes into account the diplomatic regulations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” she said.
“As long as the Federal Public Service for Foreign Affairs does not issue explicit guidelines, there is no reason to change the existing protocol,” the mayor added. “The Israeli flag is part of the flag display and will therefore hang at City Hall.”
Van Doesburg acknowledged, however, that the current geopolitical situation evokes strong emotions and that differing sensitivities exist within both the coalition and the wider city council.
The Russian flag, by contrast, will not be flown this summer.
#FlandersNewsService | Antwerp City Hall with national flags © BELGA PHOTO WIM HENDRIX
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