Bill prohibiting raising of Palestinian flag approved by Knesset in preliminary reading
Jerusalem24 – The General Assembly of the Israeli Knesset approved on Wednesday evening in a preliminary reading a bill that would outlaw the display of enemy flags, including the Palestinian flag, at state-funded institutions including universities.
The bill was submitted by MK Eli Cohen from the opposition Likud party. It was approved by the Knesset with 63 votes in favor and 16 against, with lawmakers from the coalition’s right-wing New Hope and Yamina parties voting with opposition MKs.
During the session, Cohen shouted at members of the Arab Joint List who opposed the bill, telling them to “go to Gaza or Jordan.”
The raising of the Palestinian flag at Tel Aviv and Ben Gurion Universities in Beersheba during events organized by Palestinian students on the occasion of the 74th anniversary of the Nakba angered Israeli right-wing parties within the government coalition and in the opposition, with members of the Knesset making racist and extremist statements against Palestinians.
Member of Likud and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Israel Katz said on Twitter on 24 May: “Yesterday I warned the Arab students waving Palestinian flags at universities: Remember 48. Remember our War of Independence and your Nakba. […] if you do not calm down we will teach you a lesson that will not be forgotten.”
הזהרתי אתמול את הסטודנטים הערבים, שמניפים את דגלי פלשתין באוניברסיטאות: זיכרו את 48. זיכרו את מלחמת העצמאות שלנו והנכבה שלכם, אל תמתחו את החבל יותר מידי. די לטרור הפנימי של ערביי ישראל. די לאלימות נגד יהודים בערים המעורבות, אם לא תרגעו אנחנו נלמד אתכם לקח שלא יישכח. pic.twitter.com/S0Tk3lE1vU
— ישראל כ”ץ Israel Katz (@Israel_katz) May 24, 2022
Finance Minister Avigdor Liberman tweeted ahead of yesterday’s vote, “In our state there is only room for one flag – the flag of Israel.”
The bill must still pass two more readings to become law.
