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CTV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Israeli flag installed outside town hall in Hampstead, Que. stirs local debate
Outside the Hampstead Town Hall, the addition of the flag of Israel is raising concerns among some residents. The Israeli flag has flown outside Hampstead's town hall since October 2023 — and it's getting mixed reactions from residents of the Montreal suburb. Among them is 25-year-old Adam Ben David, who says the flag doesn't belong on the municipal property. 'I think it's inflammatory to have a foreign flag that is not representative of every single person in this community, which is very diverse,' he said in an interview. The flag replaced Hampstead's municipal banner, taking its place alongside the Canadian and Quebec flags. Mayor Jeremy Levi told CTV News the move was suggested by the town's then–director general and supported by council. 'Every other government across the world had done so,' Levi said. 'We never told the DG how to do it or to remove the Hampstead flag. If Hampstead residents feel so patriotic towards the Hampstead flag, we can always install a fourth flagpole — I just don't think it's a great use of resources.' Residents split on the issue For some residents, the flag is a symbol of solidarity, but for others it's an inappropriate political statement for municipal grounds. CTV News approached several people outside town hall and in a nearby park, but the vast majority declined to speak publicly. Among those who did, opinions were divided. One woman, who asked not to be identified, said she supports keeping the flag. She described it as a sign of support, acknowledging how many communities in the Middle East are going through tragic times. 'I see nothing wrong in putting it up because it's reflecting that there's something terrible going on in Israel and we're all in mourning for that situation, collectively,' she said. Sisters Keren and Bénédicte Paka, who have lived in Hampstead for two years, saw it differently. 'It's problematic because there are many international students here, international workers, Quebecers and other people — I don't think it has its place here,' said Keren. Bénédicte added: 'I think to make everyone feel comfortable, the flag should be taken down — so that each person feels free and not oppressed by one community or another.' While there's division, Levi has been clear that he will not remove the flag. 'It doesn't matter to me if there's two signatures or 2,000 signatures,' he wrote in a statement to CTV News. 'My position will not change.' He also said he has never received a formal complaint from residents about it and, on the contrary, has received 'many compliments.' Petition for flag removal Ben David began knocking on doors this summer to build support for removing the flag. He has gathered roughly 40 signatures so far and said he plans to continue canvassing as the weather cools. 'The Israeli flag represents a whole host of things: politically, religiously, ethnically,' Ben David said. 'In my opinion, it's unfair for the mayor to hoist it on behalf of 7,000 people — because a flag can incite all sorts of things: happiness and joy, but also fear and despair.' Ben David told CTV News that some residents who agreed with him refused to sign publicly. 'They're afraid of either being chastised by the mayor or other people in our community,' he said, emphasizing that 'it's an incredibly difficult time to be Jewish.' He also questioned why the flag needed to remain permanently. 'I don't understand why it has to be permanent considering that we are a diverse plurality here,' he said. For his part, Levi rejected the allegation that residents feared harassment. 'I have never harassed or shamed a private resident and would never do so,' Levi wrote, adding that he believed the petition was politically motivated ahead of municipal elections in less than three months. He said residents who want the flag removed should take it up with council, which holds the vote. He insisted he will 'never back down from supporting Israel and the Jewish community,' adding: 'If residents are unhappy with that position, November 2, 2025, is their chance to make a change.' It's a position Levi also made clear in a post on X in late July, in which he wrote: 'I will never take down the Israeli flag, if that's a problem for you, vote me out next election.' Despite him standing firm on the decision, others, like Ben David, say they intend to push forward with their demand for the flag to come down. Ben David said he intends to bring the matter to town council next week. With the latest census data showing about 40 per cent of Hampstead residents are not Jewish, the flag remains a lightning rod in the small, predominantly Jewish suburb.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Israeli flag in front of Hampstead, Que., town hall ruffles some residents
Adam Ben David, who lives in the on-island Montreal suburb, shared a letter with his concerns on social media and with the town's mayor. Mayor Jeremy Levi says he never received complaints from residents about the flag and has no intention of lowering it.
CBC
2 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Hampstead, Que., resident challenges Israeli flag in front of town hall
Social Sharing An on-island Montreal suburb is flying the Israeli flag in front of its town hall, and some residents feel uncomfortable with that. Among them is Adam Ben David, a resident of Hampstead, Que., who said he has since double checked his hometown's demographics. "The community was much less homogeneous than I thought," he said in an interview with CBC News. According to the latest census data, roughly 40 per cent of residents in the town are not Jewish. "There is a large Jewish majority and that's beautiful, but there are a lot of people in our community who don't feel represented by that flag." Everybody who lives in Hampstead has a right to feel represented and welcome, he said. There are people of all faiths and backgrounds in town, he said, and "it pained [me] to realize that these are people who feel left out." He said the town's flag was flying before the Israeli flag went up. In front of Hampstead's town hall, three flags are flying at half-mast: Canada's Maple Leaf, Quebec's fleurdelisé and Israel's Star of David. The blue and white Israeli flag was hoisted in October 2023, but more recently, Ben David, 25, shared his concerns in a letter he published to social media and sent to the town's mayor, Jeremy Levi. "Raising the flag at town hall effectively removes each Hampstead citizen's ability to express their personal stance on Israel," wrote Ben David in the letter. 'The flag stays,' Hampstead mayor says In an email dated Aug. 1 and shared with CBC News, Levi responded to Ben David that he should have brought the matter to city council and that he never received any complaints from residents about removing the Israeli flag. He encouraged Ben David to contact city councillors on the matter as they control the vote. By contrast, in a post on the social media platform X three days prior, Levi said, "I will never take down the Israeli flag. If that's a problem for you, vote me out next election. If standing with Israel costs me the next election, so be it. I'll wear it as a badge of honour. The flag stays." Levi has been outspoken about Israel's right to defend itself since the start of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In a phone interview Thursday, he told CBC News that he has spoken with councillors and none have shown an interest in lowering the flag. He said he has no intention of lowering it either. Hampstead resident Gabriel Azancot told CBC News on Thursday he doesn't mind seeing an Israeli flag in his town. "The country is still at war," he said. Leah Poszwaylo, who was in the area, said, "we need to have justice for Palestine." She wants Hampstead to replace the Israeli flag with its own town flag. "You can still have Israeli pride if you want it," she said. While the mayor is determined to keep the flag up, Ben David said he will continue to share his letter with other citizens. Levi questioned this matter coming to light on social media so close to a municipal election when the flag has already been flying for so long. "If there was a genuine interest to have a discussion on this, there would have been some dialogue between this individual, town councillors and myself, but nobody received anything," said Levi. "As far as I am concerned, the flag does not just represent support for Israel. It represents support for the Jewish community and the Jewish community needs as much support as it can receive at this point in time."
