By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago retreated Wednesday from a proposal to raise the Israeli flag over City Hall on Oct. 7, following objections from Commissioner Richard Lara and several residents who warned the move risked dividing the community.
The resolution, placed on the agenda earlier in the week, aimed to honor victims of Hamas’s 2023 attack on Israel, which left about 1,200 people dead, many at a music festival. Lago introduced it as a humanitarian gesture, and with Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson and Commissioner Ariel Fernandez signaling support, the measure appeared set to pass.
That changed when Lara, usually aligned with Lago and Anderson since winning office in April, urged colleagues to step carefully.
Lara urges a unifying approach
“I want everyone to know I am one of the staunchest supporters of the State of Israel,” Lara said. “But while there are many ways to show support, raising the flag of a foreign nation that is embroiled in an ongoing conflict would likely be viewed by residents as an act of division and conflict. That is not the role of a municipality whose mission is to serve all of its people.”
He noted the city had never raised the flag of another country, warning that doing so now could amount to “taking sides in a political and military conflict” far from Coral Gables. Lara called for a gesture that would honor victims without suggesting City Hall was endorsing one side in an ongoing war.
Supporters defend proposal’s intent
Lago defended the measure, saying his intent was remembrance, not politics. “Israel is our number one ally. We must always remember that 1,200 people were killed that day, many while simply attending a concert,” he said. “This should not be viewed as anything political. It is about celebrating their lives and condemning terrorism.”
He cited past occasions when the city has displayed banners or flags for causes such as autism awareness and LGBTQ+ inclusion. “Just as we celebrate the holidays of other faiths in our community, this was meant as a unifying gesture, not a divisive one,” Lago said.
Fernandez echoed the mayor’s view, suggesting an ecumenical prayer service might complement whatever steps the city ultimately takes. Anderson, who also supported the idea, proposed lowering the U.S. flag as an alternative, though the city attorney reminded commissioners that only the president or governor may order flags flown at half-staff.
Residents deliver strong rebuke
Public comment brought pointed criticism from residents who urged officials not to embroil City Hall in a foreign conflict.
Jalal Shehadeh, a lawyer and business owner, said: “The idea of raising Israel’s flag, or any foreign flag, at City Hall should not be happening. This city should not be in the position of endorsing one side in a conflict, particularly when Israel is largely viewed as a country committing genocide.” He encouraged the commission to also honor Palestinians who have died before and after Oct. 7.
Sadia Raja argued the proposal would “alienate and exclude” neighbors. “It sends a message that the city is taking a side in a foreign dispute,” she said. “All suffering and death should be acknowledged, not just one side.”
Speaking via Zoom, Katherine Shehadeh called the plan “really surprising and taken aback.” After talking with residents and commissioners, she said, “it seems to be the general consensus that raising any foreign flag over City Hall, especially that of Israel, who is seen as waging a campaign of genocide and starvation over past two years, is not a precedent we should be setting.” She added: “If the mayor wants to raise the Israeli flag, he can raise it over his own home. City Hall is not his home. It is the home of all residents, and it should not be used in this way. If adopted, this would not be forgotten.”
Resolution deferred for consensus
Although Lago still had the votes to approve the resolution, he chose to defer it rather than force a split decision. “We are going to do something to honor the victims of Oct. 7,” he said, “but it must be something that brings the community together.”
The debate marked an uncommon break between the mayor and one of his closest allies on the dais and underscored how events abroad can stir intense feelings locally. Commissioners agreed to work with staff and faith leaders on an alternative memorial that could unite residents while avoiding precedent-setting displays of foreign flags.
As the meeting ended, Lago emphasized his commitment to remembrance — but also to civility. “It’s important that we find a way to honor the victims,” he said, “but we also have to make sure Coral Gables stays a place where every resident feels included.”
This Post Has 12 Comments
Lets stick to fixing streets, sidewalks, trash piles, aging infrastructure, the building department, services, etc. Anyone in the city wanting to show support for another country can do it on their own time and with their own money.
Neutrality respects everyone.
This is so disheartening. Not condemning Hamas for the brutal torture and killing of hundreds of innocent people is insane.
I know what you mean. Not condemning Israel for the brutal slaughter of over 20,000 innocent children (not to mention Israel’s starvation campaign) is similarly insane. In fact, it’s several-fold more insane. Thus, it is probably best to avoid raising ANY foreign flags on our American soil, and instead let our local government focus on the task at hand — taking care of our residents and city beautiful.
We do not believe the City of Coral Gables should get involved in supporting international conflicts that do not concern us. This conflict is the subject of numerous controversial opinions, and we should not get involved with the Israeli flag flying over City Hall.
On the other hand, we do not know who Mayor Lagos wants to please, nor is it fair to use commemorating the attack on Israel in 2023 as a pretext. If we want to be objective, Israel is currently committing genocide in Palestine, and we have to go back in history to 1948 to see the unjust and illegal actions of Israel against Palestinians, stealing their land—unjust actions that were even acknowledged by Israeli heroes like General Moshe Dayan.
AR’s disgraceful, defamatory comment shows precisely why Lara was wise to push back on this idea.
I commend the bravery of the three residents who spoke wisely on why Coral Gables should not raise the flag of Israel at our city hall. I do not see the need for a small municipality to involve itself in global politics. I especially don’t see a need when we have local issues that should take priority…or am I the only one who has witnessed the flooding and chaos from storms that weren’t even the level of being a hurricane or tropical storm?
Our dais should be focused ONLY on the well being of Coral Gables and its residents.
I wish more residents would publicly speak up against this issue (myself included) but AR’s comment is the disgusting example why most of us are quietly cheering on those brave enough to speak the correct truth on this matter. Raising the flag of Israel would tell us all that our dais agrees with the actions Israel has taken and that they support the ongoing genocide of innocent children and their families.
Looks like AR’s comment has been subsequently edited.
It doesn’t look like there is a way to edit your own comment so if this means the gables gazette is editing our comments, how are we to trust what we read on this platform?
I have screenshots of the original comment in case they’re needed.
We simply removed the last sentence which was accusatory.
Thank you. I truly appreciate the clarification and transparency for all to see. I also appreciate you protecting the resident who AR was maliciously slandering because his comments in no way warranted AR’s (since deleted) last sentence.
I was very happy to see Commissioner Lara speak against Mayor Lago’s proposal of raising another country’s flag over City Hall, especially one currently involved in a war. That act would definitely cause division within our own city, demonstrating alliance with one of the two countries involved in the conflict, and would be most inappropriate and ill-advised.
Totally with JZ. What is it with these people who enter city government and act like the United Nations. Concentrate on running this city properly and cut the grandstanding and the waste of money in things almost nobody needs or want.