Walsall Council urged to fly Palestinian flag
Banner-waving Pro-Palestinian supporters lobbied councillors arriving for last night's important leadership vote at Walsall Council House.
They held placards urging the authority to fly the Palestinian flag in solidarity with people who had been affected by the conflict in Gaza.
Glasgow and Fife in Scotland are the latest councils to agree to raise the standard above their council buildings. The black, white, green and red flag is already flying in Bradford, Tower Hamlets and Preston.
Councillor Mohammed Arif, a member of the Walsall Coalition for Palestinian Rights which organised the peaceful demonstration, was among a handful of councillors to take part.
He said: "The group is encouraging Walsall Council to do likewise but there are 60 councillors that need to be convinced.
"Some feel it is an international issue and that councillors should only concern themselves with Walsall matters. There's also an argument that international issues impact on people living in Walsall.
"I support the cause. I have visited Palestine and helped to create friendship links between our schools and Kobar, a small village of around 4,500 on the West Bank. But we make it clear that we are not anti-Jewish or anti-Israel. It's purely a humanitarian gesture.
"Raising the flag is not going to stop what is going on in Palestine but it will raise the issue as a talking point."
Councillor Arif, Conservative member for St Matthews ward, said the subject crossed party and religious lines.
"I have six mosques in my constituency and interestingly it is non-Muslims that have asked me about raising the flag rather than the local Muslim community. It's an issue that crosses the political divide."
The group made its request for the Palestinian flag to be flown at the council house in writing on Friday (8th) to the leaders of the Labour, Tory, Lib-Dems and UKIP parties. A decision is yet to be taken.
