Hampstead, Que., resident challenges Israeli flag in front of town hall

An on-island Montreal suburban area is fast the Israeli signal flag in look of its ithiel town hall, and some residents feel uncomfortable with that.

Among them is Adam Ben David, a resident of Hampstead, Que., who said he has since double checked his hometown's demographics.

According to the latest census data, roughly 40 per cent of residents in the town are not Jewish. 

"There is a large Jewish majority and that's beautiful, but there are a lot of people in our community who don't feel represented by that flag."

Everybody who lives in Hampstead has a right to feel represented and welcome, he said. There are people of all faiths and backgrounds in town, he said, and "it pained [me] to realize that these are people who feel left out."

He said the town's flag was flying before the Israeli flag went up.

In front of Hampstead's town hall, three flags are flying at half-mast: Canada's Maple Leaf, Quebec's fleurdelisé and Israel's Star of David.

The blue and white Israeli flag was hoisted in October 2023, but Ben David shared his concerns more recently in a letter he published to social media and sent to Mayor Jeremy Levi.

"Raising the flag at town hall effectively removes each Hampstead citizen's ability to express their personal stance on Israel," wrote Ben David in the letter.

By contrast, in a post on the social media platform X three days prior, Levi said, "I will never take down the Israeli flag. If that's a problem for you, vote me out next election. If standing with Israel costs me the next election, so be it. I'll wear it as a badge of honour. The flag stays."

Levi has been an outspoken supporter of Israel during the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

"The country is still at war," he said. 

Leah Poszwaylo said, "We need to have justice for Palestine."

She wants Hampstead to replace the Israeli flag with its own town flag. 

"You can still have Israeli pride if you want it," she said. 

While the mayor is determined to keep the flag up, Ben David said he will continue to share his letter with other citizens. Levi questioned this matter coming to light on social media so close to a municipal election when the flag has already been flying for so long. 

"If there was a genuine interest to have a discussion on this, there would have been some dialogue between this individual, town councillors and myself, but nobody received anything," said Levi.

"As far as I am concerned, the flag does not just represent support for Israel. It represents support for the Jewish community and the Jewish community needs as much support as it can receive at this point in time."

Reporter

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