North Andover Resident Files Permit To Raise Palestinian Flag [UPDATE]

NORTH ANDOVER, MA — A North Andover resident has filed a permit with the town to raise the Palestinian flag on the Town Common. The flag would be raised from Nov. 7 to Dec. 7.

The permit request was on the Select Board’s agenda for its Monday meeting.

However, the town announced Monday that the meeting would be rescheduled.

The town wrote: “Due to threats of litigation, as well as public safety concerns and space constraints under the Open Meeting Law, the Town Manager and the Police Chief have advised the Select Board to cancel tonight’s meeting and refer the flag matter to Town Counsel for review.

“The meeting will be rescheduled.”

The Merrick Valley Jewish Federation is opposed to the proposal and asked its members to rally against it, according to WCVB 5-ABC.

“The safety of our Jewish community, our heritage and our history is being challenged at an alarming rate,” the group reportedly wrote in an email to members.

Elsewhere in Massachusetts, whether and how city governments respond to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war has been controversial.

A Palestinian flag was raised outside of Worcester City Hall last week. Members of the Palestinian and Muslim communities captured the flag-raising on their cellphones.

Tahir Alo, of the Islamic Society of Greater Worcester, called the flag “a symbol of peace.”

Earlier in October, the Worcester City Council passed a resolution to denounce the kidnapping of Israelis by terror group Hamas. The resolution followed the Oct. 7 Hamas attack from Gaza where some 1,400 Israelis were killed and as many as 250 people taken hostage.

However, some criticized the resolution for failing to mention atrocities in Gaza.

In Salem, two councilors defended attending a Palestinian protest. The councilors said they are supporters of peace on both sides in the escalating conflict and did not regret being at the event. Organizers said the protest, which attracted about 150 people, was of the Israeli government’s counterattacks in Gaza following the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks and the United States’ ongoing support of Israel’s actions.

See Salem City Councilors Defend Palestinian Protest Presence