Fermanagh and Omagh council is to write to the Department for Infrastructure and the PSNI calling for the removal of Israeli flags on lampposts.
Alliance Councillor Stephen Donnelly said he had been contacted by residents from the Hospital Road area of Omagh over the erection of Israeli flags due to “concerns of territorial demarcation”.
“There seems to be sluggishness to even engage in a process around the removal of items of this nature. There is a real perception that anybody can put up anything on a lamppost and it won’t come down.
“Essentially there is just a free rein where people can engage in criminal activity. This is playing out on lampposts in our community where chill factors are created because of a sense of trying to assert a particular political land-grab on particular areas.”
Councillor Donnelly proposed writing to the DfI and the PSNI to ask for the issue to be properly looked at.
Seconding, Councillor Dermot Browne, Sinn Féin said: “This is an ongoing issue and there isn’t anything being done about it. I’m regularly contacted about Israeli flags in Enniskillen but also UVF flags, sectarian posters and everything else. We get the same stock response. PSNI won’t take them down, nor will Roads Service or anyone else. Clearly there are circumstances when they decide they must take items down because there are examples where confederate flags and swastikas come down very quickly. Somebody is making decisions on which flags are too contentious, and which are not contentious enough.
“I want to know how someone can think an Israeli or UVF flag is not contentious because that’s complete nonsense.”
However, DUP councillor Errol Thompson described the proposal as divisive, pointing out flags has been an ongoing issue for years which: “I don’t think it’s ever going to resolve itself to be honest. We had the Flags and Emblems Commission, discussions, working groups and everything else. I have also received correspondence about Palestinian flags which people see as very aggressive, as well as offensive slogans on walls.
“I don’t know where the line is drawn in this. People are mentioning Israeli flags but there are a lot of Palestinian flags right across this district causing offence.”
Ulster Unionists cllr Robert Irvine said the problem “comes from all sides of the community and it’s wrong for us to highlight what’s coming from one side without acknowledging the other displays offensive signs as well.”
“Stormont should be legislating on this and they can’t find agreement. We have to be unanimous in condemnation of all flags that bring harm and hurt to all and both sides of the community rather than singling out one.”
The motion was passed 36 to 11 with one abstention.