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Monday, September 22, 2025
Nearly two dozen French town halls fly Palestinian flag ahead of recognition
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PARIS, France — Almost two dozen town halls in France fly the Palestinian flag from their entrances in defiance of a French Interior Ministry warning not to do so ahead of the recognition of a Palestinian state by President Emmanuel Macron.
The president is due to recognise a Palestinian state in New York on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, following up on a pledge he made in the summer that angered Israel.
However, hardline French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who is also leader of the right-wing Republicans Party, last week issued a circular ordering prefects — the top local state-appointed officials — to oppose the flying of the flags.
“The principle of neutrality in public service prohibits such displays,” the Interior Ministry said, adding that any decisions by mayors to fly the Palestinian flag should be referred to courts.
“This evening, the president will announce at the UN the recognition of the State of Palestine.
“Nantes is supporting this historic decision by the French Republic by raising the Palestinian flag for the day,” the Socialist Party (PS) mayor of Nantes, one of the major cities in western France, Johanna Rolland, says on X.
The flag was already flying in front of the Nantes town hall, an AFP correspondent reports.
The Times of Israel Community.