Vistors to Northern Ireland could be forgiven for believing that the Tourist Board has gone into overdrive to make them feel welcome during what is euphemistically termed "the height of the marching season".
In fact, the number of foreign flags in interface areas has taken on mardi gras proportions. Enter any loyalist enclave and beside the Ulster and Union Jack emblems you will be greeted by an array of loyalist paramilitary, Queen's Golden Jubilee, Scottish St Andrew's, Welsh and Israeli flags. In nationalist areas the Tricolour is supplemented by Palestinian, Basque and South African flags, the latest arrivals being the colours of Argentina and Brazil, rivals of the English football team during the World Cup.
Rather than a sign of hospitality, the foreign flags are part of the sectarian demarcation system, especially in the case of the Palestinian and Israeli flags. While there undoubtedly are nationalists and loyalists who sympathise with the respective countries' causes, the main motivation seems to be one of "my enemy's enemy must be my friend", followed by "as long as it winds the other side up".
When Israeli flags began to appear all over the loyalist village area in south Belfast, a local Ulster Unionist councillor, Bob Stoker, said they were a sign of the "multi-cultural make-up of Belfast". The flags were backed up by supportive graffiti such as "Go on Sharon" - not a local beauty but "The West Bank of the Lagan backs Ariel Sharon".
A north Belfast Sinn Féin councillor, Gerard Brophy took issue with their stand.
"Nationalists have supported the Palestinian people for years and they have supported us. We have had a number of Palestinians visiting the \ New Lodge but I have never heard of any Israelis visiting the village."