By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Nearly a month after Mayor Vince Lago first proposed raising the Israeli flag over Coral Gables City Hall to honor victims of the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks, the city has abandoned all public plans to mark the anniversary—at least for now.
What began as a symbolic gesture escalated into one of the most contentious debates in recent city memory. Scores of residents spoke at commission meetings and sent emails urging the city to reconsider, warning that the move could divide a multicultural community by appearing to take sides in an ongoing, deadly conflict between Israel and Palestinians in Gaza.
Initially, the commission sought a compromise. At its September 25 meeting, rather than raising a flag, commissioners agreed to light City Hall in the colors of the Israeli flag. But that plan also drew objections. And by late last week, officials quietly canceled even the lighting.
When asked for confirmation, city spokesperson Martha Pantin wrote in an Oct. 6 email, “An interfaith ceremony is being planned; however, a date and details have not yet been finalized.” In a follow-up email the next day, she cited the start of the Jewish festival of Sukkot as the reason for the postponement.
Silence from elected officials
Mayor Lago, Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez—each of whom supported the original flag proposal—did not respond to Gazette requests for comment. Commissioner Richard Lara, who objected to the flag raising but supported the lighting plan, also declined to comment. In a published report, Lago said the city is now in talks with faith leaders to finalize a plan to host the vigil at the end of the month.
Only Commissioner Melissa Castro, who had previously raised concerns about community division, offered detailed insight into the city’s change in course.
“I spoke with City Manager Peter Iglesias on Monday morning,” Castro said, referring to the day before the planned lighting. “He said there was no consensus within the local faith community on how to appropriately commemorate the occasion—or whether now was the right time.”
Even within Coral Gables’ Jewish community, Castro noted, perspectives varied widely.
“The Orthodox community expressed that they prefer to wait until the war is over before participating in any type of event, out of respect and sensitivity to what is happening abroad,” she said. “The Reform congregation at Temple Judea indicated they were open to October 27, but overall there was concern that hosting anything right now could unintentionally invite protests or create division during a very emotional time.”
She added: “Ultimately, the city chose to pause—not to avoid conflict, but to be respectful. If something is going to be done, it should be at the right time and in the right spirit, with everyone at the table and in agreement.”
Community divisions and efforts at unity
For many residents, the reversal came as a relief—but not without frustration. Katherine Shehadeh, who spoke against the flag proposal at multiple commission meetings and sent numerous emails to city officials, said she was glad the city reversed course, but disappointed by how it handled the matter overall.
“I don’t feel good saying, ‘I told you so,’” Shehadeh said. “It was unnecessary for the city to wade into something it should have known would be divisive. This entire situation was entirely avoidable and caused a lot of pain in my corner of the community.”
Still, Shehadeh found reason for hope.
“If there’s any silver lining, a group of us—Muslims, Jews, Christians, non-religious—came together in a way that truly exemplifies interfaith work and what makes Coral Gables special.”
One such effort came from Commissioner Castro herself. She proposed adding the color red to the blue and white lighting to reflect the American flag and create a broader gesture of unity. That idea, too, was rejected.
“It was apparently Israel or nothing,” Shehadeh said.
Castro plans to revisit the matter at the next commission meeting.
“Right now, I believe the focus should be on fostering understanding and avoiding further polarization,” she said. “At the end of the day, Coral Gables can lead by example—standing firmly for peace, mutual respect, and the values that unite us as Americans.”
Mayor speaks out—on the radio
While the mayor declined to speak with the Gazette, he shared his perspective in a Spanish-language interview on W Radio last week, defending the original proposal and responding to critics.
“My point was simple. We are not talking about Palestine and Gaza, we are talking about 1,200 Jewish people who lost their lives to Hamas,” Lago said. “It’s simple, but like everything it has to be political. Even something beautiful they have to destroy to make a statement.”
Lago accused Commissioners Castro and Fernandez—both of whom had initially supported some form of recognition—of politicizing the issue. He referenced their votes to raise commissioner salaries and mentioned next year’s elections, even though the interview was ostensibly focused on the Oct. 7 commemoration.
When asked about resident backlash, the mayor acknowledged the emotional weight of the topic.
“Obviously we have Muslim [residents] who are against it because it brings up many emotions from decades-long conflict,” he said.
Pressed further by a program host who asked why the city had not acknowledged the suffering of Palestinians—more than 65,000 of whom have been killed in Gaza since October 7, according to some estimates—the mayor did not equivocate.
“My heart hurts for everyone who lost their lives, including Palestinians,” he said. “But a lot of the 65,000 were soldiers with Hamas. If you want to talk politics, there can’t be a Palestine and Israel if Hamas is there. This chapter was not started by Israel… Hamas went in to kill.”
City confronts the limits of local symbolism
With the mayor’s office silent and commission sentiment fragmented, the city has deferred any symbolic or public gestures for the time being. Whether an interfaith event eventually takes place—and in what form—remains unclear.
Commissioner Castro’s planned discussion at the next commission meeting may mark the next opportunity for public dialogue. Until then, the decision to do nothing appears, paradoxically, to be the city’s most unifying act.
The controversy has underscored a broader question that Coral Gables, like many cities, must grapple with: how—or whether—to engage with global events in a way that reflects local values without dividing the community.
This Post Has 17 Comments
I applaud the City for pausing.
Commissioner Castro is also the only consistent voice representing the voices of Coral Gables and I am happy she represents us in this time. Lago continues to try to score cheap political points exploiting tragedy.
You can raise a rainbow pride flag to honor the LBGTQ community in front of City Hall, but you can not honor Israel victims. Another shameful act by the people who are supposed to be leaders in our community. This City keeps getting worse with every decision.
Shame on any commissioner that was opposed to honoring Israel and Jews on this sad anniversary!!
You ignorant clueless woke jerks are afraid of offending a handful of Muslims that live in coral gables or so called Palestinians vs the
1,200 innocent Jews including Babies were slaughtered on 10-7-23 by Savage criminal butchers that crossed the border from Gaza and who also took hundreds of hostages!!
I am Christian, from the coral gables senior high school class of 1975. There were hundreds of American Jewish students, several were my friends, and their parents and were long time law abiding Gables residents.
Their parents and Grandparents helped develop Miracle Mile and were proud American citizens!!
WHERE WAS HAMAS? Where were Palestinians??
Are you kidding?? Community division?
You liberals are afraid of offending Palestinians??
Your putting Hamas on the Same level as Israeli and Jewish American citizens??
Obviously some of these Pseudo commissioners didn’t study History in school, and forget that Israel is one of our STRONGEST ALLIES.
Franco’s hateful rant is another illustration of why this proposal was a bad idea
As a jew myself I am very disturbed by the actions of the Israeli government…The majority of us Israeli citizens want this so called war to end ,,this is not a war..This is the annihilation of the palestine nation…An elephant confronting a mouse is not a war…I believe the entire world knows the truth here and Netanyahu should be jailed…He was asleep during the Oct 7 incident and his response to it was horrible..He is making all of Israel look bad and putting all of us Israeli citizens in danger…
It takes a lot of guts and insight to write this. I applaud you sir that you are asking for ALL lives to be valued and all Humans to be considered humans.
The sheer number of children dying in Gaza and innocents is what concerns me as an American together with the horrific deaths on 10/7.
Anti semitism, anti Arab hate and Islamophobia:anti Muslim hate is rampant all over the world. But what is happening now doesn’t make any of this better but worse for all Jews, Israelis, Muslims, Arabs, Asians etc.
it’s simple, this is still an event that happened in a foreign country and the residents that wrote to city and spoke were mostly non Muslim, non Arab. There was even a daughter of a rabbi. Irish Americans and simply CG residents. We cannot get involved as a small city in foreign affairs without fracturing our community.
Let’s support each other in ways that unite and can also shed light on the massacres occurring as we speak all over the world.
Never again means never again for anyone
With all respect, Mr. levy and Red Fox are wrong.
This debate is not about Asians or Blacks or Arabs or Muslims, it’s about Remembering and Honoring the Israeli and other Jews that were butchered and slaughtered by the Savage Terrorist Hamas with the help of Iran!!! That’s it.
Anything that happened after that is strictly the Fault of the anti Jew anti Israel terrorist!!
1,200 Jews, Israelis were killed and tortured and taken hostage that day! Including babies!!
Hamas started it, and like always Israel will end it, as it’s their right to do!!
You guys have a bad memory??
Israel DID NOT start the 6 day war on June 1967, or the Yom Kippur war of 1973. But they ended it, and to the Victors go the spoils. The real Elephants Mr. levy are actually all the Large Muslim countries that ATTACKED Tiny Israel. Israel is the mouse, surrounded by Large countries that have always called for the destruction of the state of Israel!
Remember Munich Olympics 1972 massacre?
Remember the Bomb at Lod Airport in telaviv ?
Remember the Achille Lauro Cruise Ship attack in 2985? I do, I worked on that ship.
HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH , PLO, IRAN, SYRIA, ON AND ON, trying to destroy Israel. So, to the Victor goes thevspoils- West Bank, Gaza, Golan Heights, YES!!!! Get over it! The Big Dog wins every time! In this case the Big Dog is actually The small tiny country of Israel. 🇮🇱 and Netanyahu is an Israeli patriot. LIKUD!!
50 Americans died also that day with the terrorist attack. Stupid decision
Silence is the partner of danger!
40 Americans died 10/7 hence put up an American Flag and American colors of the flag.
Also put an American flag only for all the Palestinians Americans that have been killed too by Israel.
Aysenur Ezgi Eygi: A human rights activist from Seattle, killed by Israeli forces in September 2024.
Sayfollah Musallet: A 21-year-old from Florida, beaten to death by Israeli settlers in July 2025.
Khamis Ayyad: A 40-year-old Chicago resident who died in August 2025 following a fire set by settlers near his home in the West Bank.
Amir Rabee: A 14-year-old from New Jersey, shot and killed by Israeli forces in April 2025.
Jacob Flickinger: A dual US-Canadian citizen, killed by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza while working for the World Central Kitchen aid convoy in April 2024.
Other Americans: NPR reported in October 2024 that four Americans had been killed in the West Bank and Gaza by Israelis over the preceding year, with their families reporting a lack of investigation by the US Justice Department.
Longer-term context
Since 2003: Since the killing of American activist Rachel Corrie by an Israeli military bulldozer in 2003, at least a dozen US citizens have died at the hands of Israeli soldiers or settlers
Thank you for proving my point correct Red Fox.
All those US citizens” that the Israeli Military killed are 12 compared to the 50 US Jewish Citizens that Hamas killed on 10-7-23. Except for Miss Corrie, the other 11 that the Israeli military killed happened
AFTER 10-7-23!!, after HAMAS BACKED BY IRAN decided to Attack Israel and kill 1,200 mostly Israeli Jews and 50 American Jews.
Red Fox, do you think Israel was going to take that massacre sitting down??
FYI, Since 1947, Israel has NEVER started a war against any of the many Arab and Muslim countries in that region. They have always been attacked FIRST, but Israel has won EVERY SINGLE WAR or Conflict against them!! Again, the debate between the coral gables commissioners is not about any past war or conflict. It’s only about Remembering and Honoring the 1,2000 ISRAELI AND AMERICAN JEWS that were ambushed and Massacred during a music festival and inside their homes on that day.
Israel is a Democratic country and close Ally of the United States. The “Palestinians “, can thank Hamas , the terrorist group they elected to run the Gaza Strip, for all the death and destruction that has rained down on them. Just like years ago other Palestinians could thank Yasser Arafat and the PLO,Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah, and off course IRAN.
Bottom Line, Israel is a small country that is prosperous and takes care of its people and minds its own business. But as we have seen Over and over and Over again, Fuck with Israel and then See what happens!! Amazing that all these countries and Muslims and Palestinians have incredibly Not realized that yet!! If you know History Red Fox, you may know that in 1947, one year before the State Of Israel was born, they offered the Palestinians 5 times the size of Land they have now, and the Arabs said NO, we want EVERYTHING “ From the River to the Sea”.
Big mistake. And please remember, the United States was founded and still is a Majority Judea Christian Country. I can’t wait till the Trump administration Deports That anti semetic and anti American Somalian Woman from Minnesota that is a member of the US congress. She and a couple of other Traitors in Congress.
Terrorism has gone both ways.
King David Hotel in Jerusalem, was bombed in a terrorist attack on 22 July 1946, by the militant right-wing Zionist organization Irgun during the Jewish insurgency killing 96 British citizens were killed.
That started the 1948 war and Nakba of the Palestinians. Started by Israel. From the river to the sea, all will be judea was the original charter of the Likud. I guess when they say it, it’s fine.
The USS Liberty attack on a United States Navy technical ship by Israeli Air Force jet fighter aircraft and Israeli Navy motor torpedo boats, on 8 June 1967, during the Six-Day War. The combined air and sea attack killed 34 American crew members (naval officers, seamen, two marines, and one civilian NSA employee), wounded 171 American crew members, and severely damaged the ship. At the time, the ship was in international waters. Israel has its hands dirty like the rest of them and no one makes them accountable, ever.
Still the point is…. American flag only. Colors of red, white and blue only and if we are going to commentate the lives of 1200 (which included IDF soldiers and active military personnel) when do we commemorate the 800,000 dead in Rawanda genocide, the 100000 in Bosnia genocide, the 1 million innocent Iraqis killed under false accusations of weapons and the current over 68000 Palestinians dead? Where do we draw the line? Why is what happens in Israel any repercussion on us. I would say Israel makes us unsafe as a country. AIPAC buys our politicians to put Israel first. There are many other democracies Egypt, Morocco, Turkey etc. you may not agree with their democracy but come on Bibi has been in power for over 12 years. There have been protests against him in Tel Aviv way before 10/7. Doesn’t seem very democratic either. Israel bombs 6 other countries but is constantly the victim. We had no problems in the Middle East till we started funding state sponsored terroristic activities of Israel. As an American why should my money go to a country that is causing an ethnic cleansing? Israel is the big guy because it uses us, our money, our taxes and our military intel. It is a known fact that it’s agents are openly spying on our government.
I would say for the last 10 years Saudi, UAE, Egypt, Qatar. Jordan, Bahrain have been better allies to us. Business opportunities, $400 mil plane to Trump, US military basis in each of those countries, access to oil and air space even to intercept Iranian missiles to help Israel out. Israelis have a right to exist as do Palestinians. The sheer number of children and women dead should shake anyone to the core as a Christian American. The issue is exceptionalism. Why should some lives be more exceptional than others. All children and innocents should be mourned period. And since this is a geo political issue our city hall should not get involved.
Return Israeli hostages and countless Palestinians hostages before and after 10/7
Statistics on detention of children under the age of 14 by the State of Israel
Hundreds detained annually: Defense for Children International–Palestine (DCIP) estimates that 500 to 700 Palestinian children are prosecuted each year in Israeli military courts since 2000.
High physical abuse rates: A 2023 report by Save the Children, based on consultations with former detainees, found that four out of five Palestinian children (86%) were beaten in detention, and 69% were strip-searched. Nearly half (42%) were injured during their arrest.
Administrative detention surge: In January 2025, DCIP reported that Israeli forces were holding 112 Palestinian children in administrative detention, an all-time high since DCIP began monitoring the practice in 2008. These detentions involve imprisonment without charge or trial, based on secret evidence.
Post-October 7 increase: Since the start of the conflict in October 2023, the number of Palestinian children in Israeli military detention has increased, with more reporting severe violence and deteriorating conditions.
Common charges and legal issues
Stone throwing: The most common charge against children in military courts, which can carry a max of up to 20 years in prison under Israeli military law.
Lack of fair trial rights: Israel’s military court system, which has jurisdiction over Palestinians in the occupied West Bank, is widely seen by rights groups as failing to provide fundamental fair trial rights.
Differential treatment: Human rights observers have noted a stark contrast in the judicial treatment of Palestinian and Israeli children. Palestinian children in the West Bank are subject to military law, while Israeli children in the same territory are subject to Israel’s civilian legal framework.
Age of criminal responsibility: The military system defines the age of criminal responsibility for Palestinians at 12, whereas Israel’s civilian law for Israeli children sets the age of majority at 18.
Just the last 2 lines- how is this a democracy for all? How is this fair treatment for all? We can agree as Judeo Christian Country men that Israel does not have it’s hands clean.
Commemorate all foreign deaths or stay clear of these issues especially concerning a country which most of the world sees as a genocidal state.
The flag of Israel “brings up many emotions from decades-long conflict,” [Mayor Lago] said.
Even Lago admits that none of this started on October 7. They made the right decision to stop rubbing salt in their residents wounds.
Except that he proceeded to put an Israeli flag on his official Mayor office window. An office tax payers and residents paid for. He took photos of these activists that he probably hired to pose right in front of the green space in front of city hall. This is not democracy- that he didn’t get the votes for the flag or lights and still found a petulant way to sneak this in. Way ta go to make all feel welcome! Next flag up Rwanda 800000 dead! If there were people with a Palestine flag they would have been called protestors. Great to see the mayor has showed he bows down to the Israeli embassy. America first
Israel holds an annual memorial service, at the monument they built in Jerusalem, each year on 9/11 to commemorate the lives lost during such a horrific act of terror, which happend in the United States. Many lives were lost on 10/7/2023 in Israel, in what was a violent, heinous act of terror. Commemorating, memorializing, or calling for a moment of silence, by the city government, for the lives lost on October 7th, should not be a divisive action or warrant such backlash.
Monument in Israel. Not their city hall or Capitol Hill. There is more Holocaust museums and monuments in the USA than there is even Native American monuments or African American monuments in the USa.
An event happened at the temple judea on 10/7 and city officials and the whole police force was there. If we commemorate 1 country at our city hall, why not soooooo many others? City hall is for all citizens and hence not to be divisive should not get involved in geo political issues. Again what happens in Israel at any level is their business. It is not city of coral gables business we are not part of Israel and we don’t belong to it. The pandering and exceptionalism needs to stop.
American first.