The flag of the State of Israel is once again causing divisions within the ruling coalition on Antwerp’s city council. The Israeli flag is due to be hoisted next month as part of the traditional flag display during the summer tourist season. The N-VA mayor's coalition partner Flemish socialist Vooruit is calling for the flag to be removed following the events in Gaza, but the ruling Flemish nationalist N-VA refuses to do so and is sticking to the current rules.
Home News
Israeli flag at Antwerp city hall triggers fresh tensions in city cabinet
Flags on Antwerp City Hall are part of a long tradition. For some 80 years, 85 flags have adorned the façade. Alongside the official flags, the banners of the European Union member states also fly on the Grote Markt, Antwerp’s historic market square. But in addition, the flags of countries with diplomatic representation in the northern metropolis are also displayed. And that includes the State of Israel.
The controversy surrounding the Israeli flag raged last year as well. Back then already there was a row within the coalition, but the flag remained in place. That is except for that one evening during the city council meeting, when the flag mysteriously disappeared for a short while.
No compromise in sight
There has been plenty of time to reach a compromise up in Antwerp, but so far one has failed to materialise. And so the row has flared up yet again in the city council. Unsurprisingly, the two parties at the extremes were also the most vocal in their positions. The Communist Labour Party PVDA is demanding the flag’s removal, citing the accusations of genocide levelled against Israel. Unsurprisingly, far right Vlaams Belang wants the flag to remain untouched.
Ecologist Groen and Flemish Christian democrat CD&V, two other opposition parties, also want the flag removed. But, of course, all eyes were on the position of the N-VA’s coalition partner, Flemish socialist Vooruit. Socialist group leader Kathleen Van Brempt left no room for doubt. Vooruit stands by its position: “We maintain that this flag has no place on the façade of city hall.”
She added that it is customary in a coalition to take everyone’s position into account. Van Brempt also made a suggestion, as she believes that flags of other countries that are not without controversy should also be removed.
But Mayor Els van Doesburg (Flemish nationalist N-VA) refuses to budge. As long as the Belgian Foreign Ministry does not issue explicit guidelines, there is no reason to change the existing protocol: “The Israeli flag is part of the flag display and will therefore fly at the town hall.”
The mayor acknowledges that there is no consensus within her coalition but draws no conclusions from that. Nevertheless, it is clear that this debate will continue to be a source of division within the Antwerp majority.
The clock is ticking, as the flags are due to be raised on 15 June. The Russian flag will not be there, but the Israeli flag will, for the time being, at least.