A Jewish organization is calling on the City of Toronto to cancel the planned raising of the Palestinian flag at city hall. This comes as over 20,000 individuals have signed a petition expressing concerns that the event could lead to increased division and tension within the community. B’nai Brith Canada stated that the flag-raising, scheduled for November 17 in honor of Palestinian Independence Day, violates the city’s policy against flag raisings that promote hatred, violence, or racism. The organization warned that commemorating Palestinian independence in this manner would sanitize the Palestinian Liberation Organization’s (PLO) history of antisemitism and violence. Richard Robertson, B’nai Brith’s director of research and advocacy, emphasized that the PLO’s ideology undermines Jewish self-determination and glorifies violence. He described the planned event as “insensitive” and “reckless” given the rising antisemitism in Canada. The petition, initiated by Ron Jones, advocates for alternative methods to support Palestinian awareness that do not involve flying a flag at a government institution. It states, “Events in the Middle East, especially those involving Israel and Palestine, are complex and deeply rooted in history, with implications that transcend borders.” The petition calls for the decision to fly a flag to respect the diverse views of community members, aiming to maintain city hall as a place of unity. Russell Baker, the City of Toronto’s director of media relations, confirmed that the flag-raising policy is council-approved. This policy allows non-profit organizations to request flag raisings for nations recognized by the Canadian government. In September, Canada recognized Palestinian statehood, a move that has drawn criticism from various Jewish advocacy groups. The city has approved the request from the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) for the flag-raising on November 17. The flag will be lowered at the end of the day. Baker noted that flying a flag does not indicate support for the political stances of the nations represented but acknowledges the citizens or groups making the request. Shane Martinez, a lawyer with ICJP Canada, stated that the flag-raising symbolizes Palestinian resilience and serves as a powerful expression of solidarity with Palestinians worldwide. However, Toronto City Councillor James Pasternak criticized the request, labeling the proponents as activists rather than diplomatic representatives. He described the event as a political stunt tied to a contentious and unresolved conflict. Pasternak expressed concern over the impact of recent protests in Toronto, stating, “Over the past two years, Torontonians have grown sick and tired of mobs holding rallies in neighborhoods, blocking streets, damaging infrastructure, and endlessly draining police resources.” He argued that the planned flag-raising does not align with the original intent of the program, which was to honor official partners of Canada. He also pointed out that Canada’s recognition of Palestinian statehood was contingent upon reforms and demilitarization, conditions he claims have not been met. Other Palestinian flag-raising events are scheduled across Canada, including one in Calgary on November 15 and another in Winnipeg on the same day. The Manitoba Premier announced the Winnipeg event, which has also faced opposition. An open letter from the Israeli Canadian Council in Manitoba urged reconsideration of the flag-raising, suggesting there are better ways to foster community unity. The letter stated, “If the Israeli flag must be raised in secrecy while the Palestinian flag is raised in celebration, the message is unmistakable: intimidation works.”