TEL AVIV: Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has banned the flying of Palestinian flags in public places, claiming they “encourage terrorism”, a report said.
In a statement quoted by the Jerusalem Post on Sunday night, Ben-Gvir added, "It is unimaginable that lawbreakers will wave terror flags, agitate and encourage terrorism." "I have ordered that the flags that support terrorism be taken down from public areas and that incitement against the state of Israel cease."
The nationalist official dismissed worries that his flag order would violate civil liberties, arguing that freedom of expression "does not extend to identifying with a terrorist" and those who seek to harm Israeli soldiers. The official, who already caused controversy shortly after taking office by visiting the Temple Mount compound last week, sparked controversy shortly after taking office by visiting the compound.
He said in a tweet, "We will combat terrorism and the support of terrorists with all of our power.
Kobi Shabtai, the commissioner of the Israeli police, was instructed to tell staff to take down Palestinian flags by Ben-Gvir. Although it is not against the law to fly Palestinian flags in Israel, military and law enforcement officials do have the authority to do so if they pose a threat to public order.
After joining the coalition government led by freshly re-elected Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Ben-Otzma Gvir's Yehudit party--whose name translates to "Jewish Power" -- won the position of national security minister. A policy of removing Palestinian flags from state-funded organisations was outlined in the coalition agreement. The directive on Sunday appeared to take things a step further by forbidding the flags in all public areas.
After Palestinian flags were flown at an anti-government demonstration on Saturday night in Tel Aviv, the action was taken. Concerns were also expressed following the release of Karim Younis, the Palestinian with the longest prison sentence in Israel. Younis was found guilty in 1983 of kidnapping and killing an Israeli soldier. Younis returned home to a party in the village of Ara in northern Israel while waving a Palestinian flag.
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