If mayors attempt to defy the rule, authorities will turn to administrative courts to force the removal of the Palestinian flag.

On Friday, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau warned municipalities that it is prohibited to fly the Palestinian flag from their balconies next Monday, when President Emmanuel Macron is set to recognize the Palestinian state.

RELATED:

Palestinian President Abbas To Address the UN Assembly via Video

If some mayors attempt to defy the rule, government representatives will turn to administrative courts to force the removal of the Palestinian flag, the right-wing minister said in a letter.

The ban is based on the principle of neutrality in French public service, which prohibits taking sides in any international conflict.

Some mayors, however, questioned the decision, noting that the French government has been permissive when it comes to displaying the Ukrainian flag on town halls across the country.

The text reads, “Emmanuel Macron’s Zionist dictatorship lies about wanting to recognize Palestine while banning its flag. Fascism animates the Retailleau-Darmanin national militia.”

Legislator Rima Hassan’s text reads, “French police in Paris threaten a 15-year-old boy with arrest if he didn’t remove the Palestinian flag he was carrying while walking down the street. The boy got scared and was forced to take it off. I went out and was able to speak to him. This climate of terror is absolutely scandalous!”

Retailleau is a member of The Republicans (LR), a party whose leaders have been reluctant to recognize the Palestinian state. Attempting to justify his decision, the Interior Minister said he wants to avoid “the risk of importing the conflict” into France.

Earlier, Socialist leader Olivier Faure had called for Palestinian flags to be displayed next Monday, when the United Nations General Assembly begins in New York. Despite the warnings, some French mayors have expressed their intention to raise the Palestinian flag.

Macron said he will recognize the Palestinian state under a series of conditions, including the disarmament of the Palestinian Resistance Movement (Hamas) and the transfer of control of Gaza to the Palestinian Authority.

teleSUR/ JF

Source: EFE

IN THIS ARTICLE