New Jersey city accidentally raises Palestinian flag on intifada anniversary

The mayor of a New Jersey city on Tuesday apologized for accidentally raising the Palestinian flag on the anniversary of the first Palestinian intifada.

Hoboken Mayor Ravinder S. Bhalla said that he had raised the Palestinian flag at City Hall following requests from city residents who are Palestinian.

Bhalla said he made the decision “in keeping with our city’s long-standing practice of recognizing the many cultures and communities that make Hoboken special.”

He noted that Hoboken’s City Hall has raised the flag of many different communities, including flags for Israel, Italy, Puerto Rico, breast cancer awareness and the LGBTQ community, and that raising the Palestinian flag was not a “political statement.”

“This flag raising is an acknowledgment of our Palestinian neighbors,” Bhalla said on X.

Bhalla went on to say that he had not been aware that he had raised the flag on the anniversary of the start of the First Intifada, a mass Palestinian uprising against Israel that took place from 1987-1993.

The recognized starting date for the intifada is December 9.

“It has since been brought to my attention that today’s date holds historical significance related to the First Intifada. I want to state unequivocally that this association was not known when the scheduling was approved,” Bhalla said. “I understand that this coincidence has caused concern for some members of our community. This was not our intention.”

The decision drew fire from the city’s mayor-elect and local legislators, some of whom said the City Council had not been consulted about the decision.

The flag has been taken down.

Last year, an Israeli flag at Hoboken City Hall was repeatedly stolen.

Hoboken is directly across the Hudson River from Manhattan.