Hoboken stirs controversy with Palestinian ‘flag-raising’ event at City Hall

An Israeli flag flying over Hoboken City Hall was ripped down three times. The words “Free Palestine” were painted on a wall outside a synagogue in Hoboken.
And there was a day earlier this year when hundreds of people gathered on Washington Street near City Hall to protest ― some for U.S. support for Israel in the ongoing war against the Hamas terrorist group, and others for the end of a conflict that was costing innocent Palestinian citizens their lives.
The Mile Square City is far from the Middle East and the war that began Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas slaughtered 1,200 Jews in an unprovoked attack, but it seems to be the center of Hudson County when it comes to passionate opinions on each side.
A Palestinian “flag-raising” event Monday ― the flag was pinned to a wall in City Hall because of renovations around the flagpole outside ― drew sharp criticism as well as praise.
“Over the past days, I have received emails stating that this flag raising means that the city supports terrorism and antisemitism,“ Bhalla said in a statement that preceded the City Hall event. ”Similar to earlier this year, I am taking lengths to explain that raising the Palestinian flag is an expression of our support of the Palestinian community in Hoboken and beyond, at a time when they are also hurt and suffering.”
Bhalla noted that he was criticized for an Israeli flag-raising earlier this year, but “I took lengths to explain that raising the Israeli flag is an expression of our support of the Israeli community in Hoboken and beyond, at a time of deep hurt and suffering among our Israeli community in Hoboken.”
The Gaza war between Israel and Hamas has claimed approximately 44,000 lives, with more than 104,000 injured, the Associated Press reported.
Some groups called for mass demonstrations at Monday’s event, but it appears to have gone off without a hitch. A handful of people, equally divided between pro-Palestine and Israeli supporters, sans signs or megaphones, quietly demonstrated outside City Hall.
Hoboken Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher said she sent Bhalla a note over the weekend asking the mayor to call off the event.
“While the intent behind the flag-raising may have been to honor a cultural, or more likely political, request, this decision is deeply divisive at a time when many residents are already grappling with the ongoing crisis in the Middle East,“ Fisher said in her newsletter to residents. ”Symbols matter, and actions like this have the potential to create unnecessary divisions within our community.”
Jewish Voice for Peace of Northern NJ praised Bhalla, saying “Like each of the members of Hoboken’s rich tapestry of ethnic groups, Palestinians deserve to have their heritage acknowledged. … We have confidence that the mayor, city council, and people of Hoboken will not allow false and weaponized charges of antisemitism to be used to prevent recognition of Hoboken’s Palestinian community at a time of its greatest anguish.”
Acknowledging there is not a large Palestinian population in Hoboken, Bhalla said that’s all the more reason to raise the flag.
“I feel that this makes it even more critical that we do not silence or deny the existence of a small minority of residents and their request for a flag raising,” he said. “Recognizing their existence is all the more important for our community as a whole.”