For the rest of May, anyone visiting the Irish capital Dublin will see the colors of Palestine flying high above the city.
This, after the Dublin City Council voted to raise the Palestinian flag over City Hall to mark Nakba Day later this month.
The Palestinian flag flies over Dublin City Hall today. Last night the council decided to raise it as a gesture of solidarity for Nakba Day. pic.twitter.com/mUCgyWGGnt
— Ronan Burtenshaw (@ronanburtenshaw) May 9, 2017
Councillor John Lyons, who proposed the motion, said that “tonight's gesture of solidarity is to show that we care, that we support Palestinians in their fight for self-determination, freedom and justice."
The text of the motion indicated that the flying of the flag signified the council’s approval at Ireland’s diplomatic recognition of Palestine. It also described the move “as a gesture of our solidarity with the people of Palestine living under occupation in the West Bank and Gaza….”
Inevitably, the decision drew anger from Israeli representatives. The Israeli ambassador to Ireland Zeev Boker expressed his concern that such a move would alienate Israeli expatriates living in Ireland, warning against what he described as a "one-sided approach."
Still, support for the proposal was undeniable and it passed with a majority of 42 to 11.
The Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC), which has 14 branches nationwide, tweeted the following in celebration.
YALLA, THE FLAG WILL FLY! Dublin Cllrs vote to fly the Palestinian flag from Dublin City Hall! Thanks to everyone! https://t.co/ZAXko89hqa pic.twitter.com/GpEygRFtYL
— IPSC (@ipsc48) May 8, 2017
IPSC Chairperson Ms. Fatin Al-Tamimi told the Palestinian News Network:
“I am so proud and honoured that my adoptive city will fly the flag of my homeland, Palestine, in an amazing act of solidarity with my people.”
“We Palestinian Dubs will hold our head high knowing that the people of Dublin support our struggle for justice and self-determination,” she added.
Young Palestinians also sent a message of thanks to the council for their symbolic gesture.
Thank you Dublin City Council, Sligo and Donegal County Councils for raising the Palestinian flag from Palestine .. pic.twitter.com/zGfEH10mlP
— Days of Palestine (@DaysofPalestine) May 11, 2017
Elsewhere in Ireland, Sligo and Donegal County Councils have also taken the move to display the flag.
Ireland has long been a center of Palestinian support, as many see parallels between resistance to the Israeli occupation and their own historic struggle to overthrow centuries of British rule.
Nakba day is on May 15, and marks what Palestinians consider the “disaster” of the expulsion of thousands of their ancestors from their homes during 1948.
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