2000 sign petition to oust Israeli flag councillor

AROUND 2000 people have signed a petition calling for Glasgow councillor David Meikle to resign after he flew the Israeli flag from the council’s headquarters last week.

This photo from David Meikle's Twitter account shows him waving the Israeli flag from his council office balustrade. Picture: twitter.com/cllrdmeikle

Mr Meikle, Tory councillor for Pollokshields, waved the flag in response to council leaders flying the Palestinian flag ‘to show solidarity’ with those affected by the conflict in Gaza.

The city’s Jewish communities condemned the decision, claiming it would cause tension and division.

Mr Meikle accused Glasgow council chiefs of failing to condemn the actions of Hamas, and tweeted several photos of himself waving an Israeli flag with the caption: “I asked the Lord Provost to also fly the Israel flag to show sympathy with all who suffer. No response. So I did it.”

But the councillor’s actions were criticised on social media, leading to a petition calling for his resignation.

The petition states: “[Mr Meikle] has shown no regard to the views and feelings of his constituents.

“He is entitled to his beliefs and opinions. But because of his unprofessional conduct, the place and the timing of his expression leads us to believe he can no longer represent us and should therefore resign immediately.”

Glasgow is twinned with Bethlehem, which comes under the Palestinian authority not in the Gaza strip.

A counter-petition set up by campaigner Donald Lawrie calling for council chiefs to pledge not to fly the flag of Palestine again from the Chambers has attracted more than 600 signatures.