Teaneck Postpones Israeli Flag-Raising Ceremony

TEANECK, NJ — An Israeli flag raising ceremony scheduled for this weekend in Teaneck has been canceled amid backlash from some community members, and escalating violence between Israel and Hamas that has left hundreds dead.

Teaneck officials call it unfortunate timing, but some community members say it's a chance to reconsider.

The flag raising ceremony, originally scheduled for Sunday, came after the township council passed a resolution authorizing the display of the flag on April 27. That resolution states that the flag will be raised in the face of a rise in "acts of hatred and violence against members of the Jewish community."

"The Township Council wishes to affirm the inherent right of its Jewish residents to live without fears of attacks and hatred," it read.

But then Israeli police raided a mosque in Jerusalem, and over a week of violence began between Israeli forces and Hamas, leaving hundreds dead, many of them Palestinians living in Gaza. At least 61 children have died, the New York Times reports.

After a flyer was posted to social media last week, township residents and others responded swiftly, urging officials to cancel the ceremony, or figure out a new way to honor Teaneck's Jewish community.

As of now, the event is postponed, but hasn't been canceled. Mayor James Dunleavy told Northejersey.com that the township "wanted to leave our options open."

Dunleavy also issued a statement.

"The Township is aware of current events in the Middle East, which make the original positive messaging and a celebratory event to show support difficult at this time," he wrote.

Some residents are still hopeful that the town will reconsider the raising of Israel's flag, with some stating that supporting the Jewish community doesn't have to include supporting Israel.

"Thank you for postponing this event. However, postponement doesn't solve anything other than the timing. Is there a reason this event can't happen as an event showing community support and solidarity with Jewish residents without raising a foreign flag? Absolutely no one has suggested that the premise of standing with Jewish residents against rising antisemitism is a bad idea. It's a great idea. Why does doing so have to include an Israeli flag?" asked one commenter.

To that point, the resolution also indicates that the flag would have been raised, at least in part, to celebrate "Israel Independence Day".

"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that by the Township Council of the Township of Teaneck, that, in addition to the Flag of the United States and such other flags as may be authorized by resolution or ordinance of the Township Council, Flag of the State of Israel may be displayed upon the flagpoles owned by the Township of Teaneck at Votee Park as a form of government expression during the month of May 2021 in honor Israel Independence Day."

Still, others say they see no issue with the flag raising, point to other examples of flags that have been raised in the community before.

The resolution notes that this also wouldn't be the first time they've honored the state of Israel, as they celebrated the 25th anniversary Israel's founding in 1973, and the 50th anniversary in 1998.

On Tuesday, President Joe Biden said he supported a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, according to the Associated Press.

U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer spoke on the House Floor Thursday in support of Israel and "its right to defend itself from rockets fired by the terrorist group Hamas."

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