France's new flag war: The Israeli and Palestinian banners on town halls
Estrosi, who did not respond to Le Monde 's requests for comment, said through his press office that he had "made commitments to the people of Nice that the Israeli flag, alongside the French and Nice flags, would remain on the town hall façade until the hostages held by the terrorist organization Hamas are freed and to condemn the pogrom of October 7."
Prefect Laurent Hottiaux, the local representative of the French state, had reminded the mayor of Nice, as well as all other mayors in the region, that elected officials must abide by the principle of neutrality in public services. He noted that while the presence of a foreign flag on a public building might "be tolerated in certain circumstances," it could only be for a limited time.
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