Canterbury Bankstown councillor Karl Saleh won support from the council in south-western Sydney to fly the Palestinian flag at Paul Keating Park in Bankstown and a council building.Credit:Wolter Peeters
At a fiery council meeting,Fabiano said the conflict in Israel and Gaza should not be used by politicians on the other side of the planet to extract political mileage.
He told the meeting he condemned the Hamas attack on Israeli civilians:“I have also categorically condemned the killing of Palestinian civilians by the Israeli military.”
But Liberal councillor Leon Goltsman told the meeting those were weasel words. “You are not the victim. It’s not about you,” he told the meeting. “Shame on those people that don’t stand up to terrorism. If you don’t stand up against them then you’re with them as far as I’m concerned.”
Neighbouring Woollahra Council has also been divided in its response to the Israel-Hamas war,with three councillors – Greens Nicola Grieve and Matthew Robertson and independent Harriet Price – criticised for not voting on a motion condemning the attack on Israel by Hamas.
Councils are also divided over whether to fly the flag of Israel or Palestine on council buildings.
Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore blocked a proposal to fly the Israeli flag at Sydney Town Hall.Credit:Flavio Brancaleone;Janie Barrett
Senior Labor minister Tony Burke has been condemned for supporting a decision by the City of Canterbury Bankstown in south-western Sydney to fly the Palestinian flag,whileSydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore blockeda proposal to fly the Israeli flag at Sydney Town Hall.