Beit Yisrael International: The Palestinian flag on the municipality: Rome's series of outrageous decisions

 Beit Yisrael International: The Palestinian flag on the municipality: Rome's series of outrageous decisions

The Palestinian flag on the municipality: Rome's series of outrageous decisions

Left-wing parties in the Rome municipality led a majority that led to condemnation of Israel by the Italian capital • At the same time, a decision was also made to repudiate the memorandum of understanding signed with Mekorot, even though it has expired anyway • "We condemn the recent attack against Gaza City"

Nissan Strauchler, our correspondent in Europe

19/9/2025, 02:05, Updated 19/9/2025, 02:05

A pro-Palestinian demonstration in Rome (archive). Photo: EPA

Yesterday (Thursday), the municipality of Rome hung the Palestinian flag on the municipality compound in the Palazio Santoro as a sign of solidarity with the Palestinians.

This followed a vote by members of the municipality, led by a center-left political coalition, on a decision to raise the flag, who also voted in favor of suspending an agreement between the municipal water company Acea Spa and Mekorot.

The proposal was led by the Democratic Party and the Five Star Movement, which adopted a resolution obliging the prime minister and city council to condemn Israel, call on the Italian government to support the Palestinian state, and sever ties with the Israeli water company.

The decision stated that "we (the Municipality of Rome – N.S.) Condemn any attack on international humanitarian law, including the recent attack against Gaza City, and any other action that endangers civilians, destroys humanitarian infrastructure, or prevents safe evacuation; Take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Government of Italy recognizes the State of Palestine; Display the Palestinian flag on the Senatorial Palace on Capitol Hill as a sign of closeness and solidarity with the entire Palestinian population, especially in light of the escalation of violence and as a call for respect for peace, international law and the protection of the civilian population involved; And finally, to take all appropriate measures to avoid the implementation of the memorandum of understanding signed in 2013 between Acea Spa and Mekorot Water Company, until this dramatic crisis is resolved."

Remaining Time -2:39

The Jewish community in Rome celebrates the gold medal for 16-year-old Daniel Boaron after he was banned from the podium, June of this year / Private

Democratic Party leader Valeria Ballou claimed that "Rome is on the side of the Palestinian people and on the side of peace, without conditions and conditions... We asked Israel to stop committing new crimes." Balo added, "It seems to us that in recent days the government has also taken a clearer position. This dark page of history must not be divided. This is not an act of one group, but an act of humanity. Rome suffered from the bombings, she remembers all that. Let us all vote together unanimously to demand humanity and peace for Gaza."

Balou's words were joined by Linda Milau, the head of the city's Five Star Movement, who proposed flying the Palestinian flag on the city hall compound. "We have no intention of harming the Jewish community here, and we have the utmost respect for the citizens of Israel, but we have to take a stand because something inhumane is happening. We are committed to taking this position today by announcing our vote in favor."

The flag raising was preceded by a struggle between the right-wing factions in the city and those from the left, and a previous proposal that the left-wing factions in the municipality tried to promote was rejected by the city council.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators in Rome, Photo: AP

The right-wing factions in the city council were angry at the one-sided approach of the left-wing factions against Israel and sought to raise the Israeli flag alongside the Palestinian flag. "The increase in hatred and ideological violence only increases the conflicts and certainly does not stop the deaths in Gaza," said Italia Viva party leader Valerio Cassini, "If we really want to stop what is happening, we must place the Israeli flag next to it as a symbol of the right of two peoples and two states. I hope that the proposal we submitted will be put to a vote next week."

According to him, a pro-Israel organization also joined in calling on the municipality to raise the Israeli flag on the municipality compound, "We call on the mayor and its managers, democratic forces and those with political responsibility to work together to build a different climate from the one we live in. The spread of anti-Semitic hatred and the outbreak of confrontations in Europe will not stop the massacre of Palestinians in Gaza by the Israeli government and Hamas, nor will they help release the hostages."

The Italian media reported that the call to cut ties with Mekorot is a populist declaration since there is really no cooperation between Mekorot and ACEA. The newspaper RomaToday reported that the memorandum of understanding between the two companies never led to any cooperation. Although the companies signed the agreement back in 2013, according to reports, no joint activity was ever carried out by the Israeli and Italian water companies, and that "the memorandum of understanding has apparently expired." Google Translation from: דגל פלשתין על העירייה: שורת ההחלטות המקוממות של רומא | ישראל היום

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