According to reports, a New York sheriff took down an Israeli flag flown above a public building for nearly two years following the threat of legal action by a veterans group. Broome County Sheriff Fred Akshar directed the Israeli flag be flown outside of the office following the October 7, 2023, attacks in Israel as a sign of solidarity for the local Jewish community. Akshar said it was “a decision to unapologetically show our solidarity for our Jewish community members in their time of nightmarish tragedy,” WBNG stated. However, the flag sparked backlash from other community members. One organization, Veterans For Peace, threatened legal action against the sheriff, citing a New York State law dating back to the late 1800s. Gilroy accused the office of violating NYS Public Building Law 141, which prohibits foreign flags from being flown on government buildings unless a guest is being welcomed from another country. https://t.co/Bv8ZSpC6ug — WBNG 12 News (@WBNG12News) July 29, 2025 WBNG has more: In late July, community activists held a protest against the Sheriff’s decision. The following week, members of the organization Veterans for Peace threatened legal action, under Public Buildings Law Section 141, if the flag was not removed. Akshar said his office has since consulted the Broome County Attorney’s Office to see if there was a violation of Public Buildings Law Section 141, which prohibits the display of foreign flags on public buildings. The Sheriff said they were, “unable to locate a precedent in existing case law that adequately clarifies whether ‘upon a municipal building’ applies to the flag poles outside of the Broome County Sheriff’s Office Administration Building or simply the building itself.” However, given the “legal ambiguity” and a recommendation from the Broome County Attorney’s Office, Sheriff Akshar has ordered the flag to be taken down. He said, despite its removal, “our commitment to the safety and security of our Jewish friends and neighbors, let alone to the safety and security of all of our Broome County residents, no matter their race, religion, ethnicity or creed, remains unchanged.” Veterans Force NY County Sheriff to Take Down Israeli FlagBroome County, NY Sheriff capitulatesby Jack Gilroy@VFPNational @MikeFerner #Israel #Gaza https://t.co/dcVpxksgVd — Antiwar.com (@Antiwarcom) August 10, 2025 WIVT noted: Akshar says he has also flown the Ukrainian flag outside of the Sheriff’s Office in solidarity with that foreign country in its war with Russia. He says lowering the flag does not reduce his support for the Israeli people and local Jewish Americans. Akshar says he opposes growing instances of anti-semitic violence and rhetoric in the U-S. The groups Broome County Peace Action, Veterans for Peace and Pax Christi argue that Israel is committing genocide with its War in Gaza and that local government should not be endorsing it.