TEL AVIV—Israel’s National Security Minister
Itamar Ben-Gvir
has ordered the police to remove Palestinian flags from public spaces, the latest in a series of measures by the country’s new government that threatens to escalate tensions with Palestinians.
Palestinian flags aren’t illegal in Israel, but Israeli security forces have the right to remove them from public spaces if deemed a danger to public order. Mr. Ben-Gvir’s directive against a rallying symbol for many Palestinians comes during a period of deadly violence in the occupied West Bank.
“Today I ordered the Israeli police to enforce the prohibition against flying“ the Palestinian flag, Mr. Ben-Gvir tweeted late Sunday night. “We will fight against terrorism and the encouragement of terrorism with all our might.”
The announcement came after residents of an Arab village in northern Israel waved the Palestinian flag as part of a celebration for the homecoming of Karim Younis, who had spent four decades in Israeli prison after being convicted of murdering an Israeli soldier. Around 20% of Israel’s population is Arab, many of whom identify as Palestinians.
The move followed a series of measures by the Israeli government against the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in parts of the West Bank, in retaliation for its moves against Israel in international forums.
Late in December, at the behest of the Palestinians, the United Nations voted in favor of asking the International Court of Justice, its highest judicial body, to deliver an advisory opinion on Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, where millions of Palestinians have lived under Israeli security control for decades.
Residents of an Arab village recently celebrated the release of Karim Younis, who spent four decades in Israeli prison.
Photo:
Saeed Qaq/Zuma Press
The measures announced on Friday include taking about $40 million from the tax Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and transferring it…
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