Israel orders police to remove Palestine flags from public spaces
Al JazeeraOct 07, 2022
The Facts
Israel's security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday ordered police to remove Palestinian flags from public places, deeming their display an act of "terrorism" in the wake of mass anti-government protests in Tel Aviv that broke out the previous day.
The announcement came only a few hours after Ben-Gvir summoned Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai to reprimand him regarding public festivities in the Arab town of 'Ara. The festivities celebrated the return of freed prisoner Karim Younis, who served 40 years in jail on terror charges.
The Spin
Pro-Palestine narrative
Israel's most far-right government ever hasn't wasted any time in cracking down on Palestinians. This flag ban is simply symbolic of all the efforts taken to retaliate against the UN vote to refer the decades-long occupation of the West Bank to the International Court of Justice. Tel Aviv's goal is clear: to harm the Palestinian cause as much as possible and bring about its downfall.
Pro-Israel narrative
While waving the Palestine Liberation Organization flag is not a crime under Israeli law, it's self-evident that its display expresses solidarity and sympathy to terror groups when it's flown in the homecoming ceremony of a convicted murderer who spent 40 years in prison. This ban is a necessary measure to curb the acceleration of terrorism and prevent further public disturbances.