Palestinians reaffirm “right to existence” with flag display

Jerusalem24– As settlers wave Israeli flags across the occupied Old City of Jerusalem during the flag march on Jerusalem Day, Palestinians have been raising their own flags across the West Bank and East Jerusalem, in some instances seeing them removed minutes later by Israeli forces or members of the public.

Palestinian flags have also been frequently raised beyond the Green Line at universities during protests after Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing, leading to the introduction of a bill prohibiting the raising of the flag on university campuses.

Israeli affairs expert Issmat Mansour tells Jerusalem24 that “the symbolism of the Palestinian flag is back again.”

“It is a symbol of resisting the Israeli occupation’s attempts to erase the Palestinian identity, it is a symbol of the right of existence in the midst of settlers’ flag marches that are a tool for them to force their sovereignty over the Palestinian land.”

“The conflict over the identity of the land and the right to existence is reaching its peak,” says Mansour, “especially with the far-right government in Israel that denies Palestinians the right to existence and right to self-determination.”

Mansour says the scenes of the last few days are reminiscent of the First Intifada, and that the Israeli “campaign” to remove Palestinian flags is a reflection of the Israeli need to win the conflict. “This generation is challenging the occupation. Raising the Palestinian flag means that the youth are refusing the policies of the Israeli occupation.”