Police investigating theft of Israeli flag from Woollahra Council chambers in Double Bay
Police are investigating after an Israeli flag flown by Woollahra Council in Sydney’s eastern suburbs was stolen, with the council rushing to hoist a replacement. Here’s what we know.
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An Israeli flag flown by Woollahra Council in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has been stolen, with the council rushing to hoist a replacement.
A council spokesman confirmed the flag was stolen from its pole outside the Woollahra Municipal Council chambers in Double Bay on Tuesday, with council staff alerted to its absence in the early afternoon.
Eastern suburbs police are investigating the theft, and have attended the chambers to take statements. A new flag was to be raised by Woollahra Mayor Richard Shields by the end of the day.
Councillor Shields said the theft had left him ‘shaking his head’, and confirmed CCTV has been given to police. The footage, he understood, shows a lone, male alleged perpetrator.
“If there are people out there listening who think it’s funny to do this, there (are) cameras everywhere and the police are going to get you,” he told radio station 2GB.
Earlier the mayor said his council would continue to show solidarity while more than 200 Israelis remain Hamas' hostages.
“The raising of the flag is a symbol of our community’s solidarity with Israel for the horrific murder of more than 1400 innocent men, women and children,” he said.
“We should not forget the 239 innocent Israelis that are still being held hostage by an internationally recognised terrorist organisation.
“Our community’s support should not waver until all of the hostages are released.”
Woollahra Council raised the flag following a council meeting on October 9 during which Councillor Shields put forward a mayoral minute to condemn Hamas’ deadly attack.
It followed a surprise attack from Hamas militants on Israel in which hundreds of people were killed.
It has since escalated to all-out war on the Gaza Strip.
The conflict has sparked tension in Sydney with pro-Palestinian protesters marching to the Sydney Opera House was it was lit in the colours of the Israeli flag colours on October 10
Fireworks and flares lit up the stairs of Sydney’s icon moments after the blue and white colours of the Israeli flag lit up the Opera House sails.
Members of the crowd started screaming “f*ck Israel”, and “f*ck the Jews” from behind covered faces.
A series of mostly peaceful counter rallies have taken place since.
The Woollahra local government area area has a substantially high Jewish population, with 14 per cent of Woollahra residents identifying as Jewish at the last census.
Sydney’s councils have been divided along geographic and cultural lines on the flying of Israeli and Palestinian flags amid the war in Gaza.
Canterbury-Bankstown Council in southwest Sydney is flying the Palestinian flag, while City of Sydney Lord Mayor Clover Moore recently opposed a motion by another councillor to fly the Israeli flag.
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