An Israeli government directive which places additional restrictions on the display of Palestinian flags in public spaces in Israel is an audacious attack on the rights to nationality, freedom of expression and freedom of peaceful assembly.
The directive, which was issued on Sunday by Israel’s new Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, describes the Palestinian flag as a symbol of “terrorism” and instructs Israeli police to remove it from public places.
The directive comes amid a wave of measures designed to silence dissent and restrict protests, including those held in defence of Palestinian rights. Such measures include a growing crackdown on Palestinian civil society, and soaring numbers of arrests and administrative detention orders used to punish Palestinian activists.
This appalling attempt to erase the identity of the Palestinian people is the latest in a series of measures that Israeli authorities have introduced to legitimize racism and discrimination against Palestinians.