The City Council is planning to raise the Palestinian flag over City Hall Friday at noon, a decision the mayor calls "divisive."

A Palestinian flag raising ceremony scheduled for Friday at Providence City Hall has drawn mixed reaction from city councilors and other local leaders.

It is a move dividing not only the public, but the different branches of city government. “Unfortunately I think this is exactly what some people wanted,” said Providence Mayor Brett Smiley. “One more instance for controversy.