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 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 was the last scheduled session of the full council this year.