Over 50 French towns fly Palestine flags, defy warning

Over 50 town halls in France were flying the Palestinian flag Monday in defiance of an interior ministry warning not to do so ahead of the recognition of a Palestinian state by President Emmanuel Macron.

- Agence France-Presse

Macron is due to recognise a Palestinian state on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, following up on a pledge he made in the summer that angered Israel.

But hardline Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau, who is also leader of the right-wing Republicans Party, issued a circular last week ordering prefects -- the top local state-appointed officials - to oppose the flying of the flags.

"The principle of neutrality in public service prohibits such displays," the interior ministry said, adding that any decisions by mayors to fly the Palestinian flag should be referred to courts.

The standoff has underlined the social and political tension in France in the wake of the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel by Palestinian group Hamas and the relentless bombardment and aid blockades by Israel on the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip that followed.

France is home to western Europe's largest Jewish population, at around half a million people, as well as a significant Muslim community sensitive to the plight of the Palestinian people in Gaza.