A decision by the mayor of Sarnia in Ontario Province that an Israeli flag could not fly over City Hall during Israel Independence Day celebrations in that city was overruled by the City Council. Robert Slipacoff, head of the Jewish community in Samia, had asked for permission to raise the flag as had been done in previous years on the occasion of Israel’s anniversary.
Mayor Marcel Saddy refused, saying he was of Lebonese descent and that Israel has indiscriminately bombed his parents’ homeland for which Israel had been condemned by the United Nations. The City Council met last Wednesday morning and debated the flag-raising issue and then overruled the mayor by a vote of 6-1. The negative vote was cast by the mayor.
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