Former deputy lord mayor calls for Palestinian recognition at Town Hall

The former deputy lord mayor has asked councillors to light up Adelaide Town Hall in Palestinian colours.

Former Adelaide City Council deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad has sent a letter to councillors pleading for them to “take a stand and show support for the Palestinian people”.

Regarded as the leader of the “Team Adelaide” council faction, Mr Abiad, who resigned from council in 2020, now lives in the holy city of Mecca in Saudi Arabia.

In a letter sent to Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith and Adelaide councillors on October 31, Mr Abiad called for a council motion acknowledging the “innocent lives lost” on both sides of the conflict.

“I write to you today with a very heavy heart, as I’m sure you have witnessed the terrible events unfold in Israel and Palestine,” he said.

“Our Australian Muslim community, since the mid 1700 and until today, has contributed and continues to contribute on many fronts to the wonderful multicultural canvas of our wider Australian community.

“Over the last few weeks, we have been hurting. Peaceful demonstrations are still taking place in cities all over the world and in Adelaide, as we all plead for a ceasefire in hope we are able to convince governments to intervene and stop the killing of so many innocent children, women and men.”

Former deputy lord mayor Houssam Abiad has called for the city council to show its support for Palestine. Picture: Supplied

Mr Abiad in Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Picture: Supplied

Mr Abiad also pushed for council to request that the federal government call for an “immediate humanitarian truce”, and for Town Hall to be lit in a show of solidarity for Palestinian people – after the landmark was lit with Israeli colours on October 9.

“I ask you, as you did for Israel in a sign of solidarity with your communities, to light the Adelaide Town Hall in the colours of the Palestinian flag and to hold a vigil for the community so that they can be given the chance to grieve and pay respect for the innocent lives lost on all sides of this conflict,” Mr Abiad said.

“As leaders, you have an obligation to be even handed and inclusive to all your communities, especially in times like these.”

Landmarks around Adelaide are being illuminated in blue and white tonight in solidarity with the State of Israel. pic.twitter.com/eUBtWBbC9n

— Peter Malinauskas (@PMalinauskasMP) October 9, 2023

Mr Abiad, who spent 15 years living in war-torn Lebanon and has held roles with a number of multicultural affairs offices, told The Advertiser his letter was one calling for unity.

“We pride ourselves in South Australia on how multicultural we are and how inclusive we are,” he said.

“The Adelaide City Council already got themselves involved by showcasing the colours of the Israeli flag for the terrorist attack that occurred on Israeli civilians by Hamas, which was a fair move.

“But our elected members also have a responsibility for the whole community – to make sure that the Palestinians in our community are acknowledged for the impact on them.

“There have been some successful Arab, Muslim and Palestinian people that have made incredible contributions to SA on many fronts and they deserve to be acknowledged and respected, especially in times like this.”

Mr Abiad has also appealed to the premier to show his support for Palestine. Picture: Facebook

Senior Islamic leader Ahmed Zreika quit the state’s peak multicultural body, accusing Premier Peter Malinauskas of taking sides in the war between Israel and Palestine. Picture: Dean Martin

Mr Abiad sent a similar letter to Premier Peter Malinauskas in the wake of the resignation of Ahmed Zreika from the SA Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs Commission, requesting the premier similarly show support for the people of Palestine.

He also sent a letter to Foreign Affairs Minister Penny Wong, appealing for the federal government to support an immediate humanitarian truce in the region.

“Australia has joined every single war in the last decade as a humanitarian aid support to build communities,” he said.

“We have an active role and responsibility as Australians to make sure that when we have an opportunity to vote on a cease-fire that we do not stay silent.”

Two separate pro-Palestine rallies in Adelaide have drawn crowds of more than 1000 people over past weeks, with communities calling for an end to the “siege on Gaza”.

On Wednesday, the director of the New York office of the UN high commissioner for human rights resigned in protest of UN handling of the Israel-Hamas war, calling attacks on Gaza “a textbook case of genocide”.

The Hamas-run health ministry said that 8,525 people had died so far in Israel’s relentless barrage of air strikes on Gaza, including more than 3,500 children.

More than 1400 people have died on the Israeli side – with most of those killed during the initial attack by Hamas.