Officials in Ottawa have decided to cancel a flag-raising ceremony at City Hall to celebrate the establishment of Israel due to security concerns.
Although the flag will still be raised on May 14, the planned ceremony with the mayor, diplomats, and members of the Jewish community will no longer take place.
The city cited intelligence indicating a significant risk to public safety as the reason for the cancellation, but did not provide specific details.
Concerns were raised after the group Ottawa 4 Palestine announced their intention to protest at the event on social media.
Deborah Lyons, Canada’s envoy for combating antisemitism, criticized the decision to cancel the ceremony, emphasizing that Jewish Canadians should not be denied the ability to participate in public events.
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe expressed disappointment over the cancellation, attributing it to “escalating threats and hostility” in a post on social media.
Related Stories
