Israel moves to ban flying of Palestinian flag at state-backed institutions

Israel’s Knesset parliament has passed the preliminary reading of a controversial Bill that would ban the flying of the Palestinian flag in state-funded institutions.

The Bill, introduced by Eli Cohen, from Opposition leader Binyamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party, followed two recent demonstrations by Israeli Arabs and pro-Palestinian protesters on university campuses during which Palestinian flags were flown to mark Nakba day, causing public outrage.

Palestinians mark the anniversary of the Nakba, which means catastrophe, in parallel to Israelis celebrating Independence Day, celebrating the foundation of the Jewish state in 1948.

The Bill, which passed by 63 to 16 votes in the 120-member parliament, would make it illegal to fly Palestinian flags or the flags of unidentified “enemy states” at institutions funded by the state.

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Israel’s fragile governing coalition, which last month lost its parliamentary majority, allowed a free vote on the contentious measure. Prime minister Naftali Bennett, along with members of other right-wing parties, voted in favour. Members of Ra’am (the United Arab List) and the left-wing Meretz, voted against. Labor Party members and parliamentarians from centrist parties in the coalition chose to abstain.

A fierce debate preceded the vote, during which Mr Cohen urged Israeli Arabs who consider themselves Palestinians to move to Gaza or Jordan, promising Israel would fund the journey.

“Friends, imagine someone flying the al-Qaeda flag in the United States, imagine UK hospitals flying the IRA flag, imagine Saudi schools flying the Houthi flag. Nowhere else in the world is it conceivable,” he said as a number of angry Arab lawmakers were ejected from the chamber after continuous heckling. “Rallying around with the Palestinian Liberation Organisation flag in universities represents the aspirations of those who wish to exterminate the Jewish state, that’s their message.”

In response, Ayman Odeh, head of the opposition predominantly Arab Joint List party said: “You’re acting just like any colonialist, any thief. You’re afraid of the flag, you deny the Nakba.”

Israel and the PLO signed the Oslo Accords in the 1990s and co-operation between Israel and Palestinian Authority continues until this day. Although the green, red, black and white Palestinian flag was never declared illegal in Israel they are often confiscated by police. Last month, during the funeral in Jerusalem of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, police charged the gathering to seize Palestinian flags being waved by mourners.

The Bill must pass three additional Knesset votes to become law, and many commentators doubt the shaky coalition will last that long.

Ahead of Wednesday night’s vote, a large Palestinian flag that was hung alongside an Israeli flag in Ramat Gan, close to Tel Aviv, was removed after public complaints. A similar display took place in the Arab city of Nazareth in northern Israel.

Mehazkim, a progressive left-wing movement, claimed responsibility for hanging the flags side by side, saying it was to protest the proposed legislation.

“The flag may have been removed but our message is alive and kicking,” Mehazkim said. “We were meant to live together.”