Palestinian flag to fly above Belfast City Hall

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crl9x12r94wo

Belfast City Council has voted in favour of flying the Palestinian flag above City Hall.
The proposal from Sinn Féin was passed by 32 to 28 votes, and the party has requested that the flag goes up later.
The Palestinian flag had been due to be flown on Saturday but it did not appear after the council received legal advice on the issue.
The council had voted last month by an overwhelming majority to fly the flag but unionists objected, and then used the call-in procedure at City Hall to challenge the legitimacy of the decision.
It is believed arrangements are now in place to fly the flag later on Monday.
The legal advice over the flag flying was published on Belfast City Council's website.
It states that "the decision was not arrived at after a proper consideration of relevant facts and issues".
Other options explored
The 60-member council revisited the issue at a special meeting on Monday evening ahead of its monthly meeting, however this vote was much closer than the original motion.
The Alliance Party backed the original proposal, however on Monday it suggested illuminating the City Hall in Palestinian colours in the New Year.
They voted against the flag flying, but it was supported by the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) and Green Party, as well as Sinn Féin.
It is not clear exactly when the Palestinian flag will appear.

The original plan to fly the flag was proposed by Sinn Féin councillor Ryan Murphy to mark the United Nations "international day of solidarity with the people of Palestine".
"In light of the continued genocide against the people of Gaza, it is right that we show solidarity and support to them," he said.
With 22 representatives on the council, Sinn Féin is the largest party at City Hall.

Defending unionist objections, the leader of the DUP (Democratic Unionist Party) at City Hall, Sarah Bunting, said: "Belfast City Hall represents everyone in our city. Flying the Palestinian flag would draw us into a deeply contested international conflict and risk creating further division here at home."
Later, in a statement, she said the "decision to fly the Palestinian flag from midnight was a scandalous abuse of process".
"Our small Jewish community will understandably view this as deeply intimidating and as a move that risks stoking antisemitism in our city," she added,
A detailed legal analysis of the plan to fly the Palestinian flag was distributed to councillors last week.
They were told "the call-in was considered by counsel to have merit on procedural grounds but not on community impact grounds".
Monday's monthly meeting is the last scheduled session of the full council this year.

Unionists are still hoping to prevent the Palestinian flag flying.
Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) councillor Ron McDowell issued a statement saying: "Emergency High Court proceedings will be lodged tonight, with an urgent hearing sought before midnight to put a stop to this."
Earlier, the votes of two councillors proved to be crucial.
Michael Collins from People Before Profit and independent Paul McCusker both backed the flag-flying proposal and helped to secure a four-vote majority.
After the council meeting ended, Sinn Féin insisted the flag should fly at midnight.
Councillor Ryan Murphy said his party would be ensuring it does fly.
He said: "In our view it was unduly delayed. It should have happened on Saturday."

Deputy Lord Mayor Paul Doherty was verbally abused as he left City Hall by some protesters.
A group of about 30 gathered at the back gate of the council building and pinned two union flags and an Israel flag to window railings. Some of the crowd shouted at Doherty when he appeared.
The SDLP councillor later described the protesters as a "mob".
He said: "They confronted me and threw a lot of slurs at me but the bottom line is I'm very proud to stand with the people of Palestine."
Doherty was one of the 32 councillors who supported the decision to fly the Palestinian flag.