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Rabat – Less than one week after his provocative visit to the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, Israel’s newly appointed National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir on Sunday ordered police to ban flying or displaying Palestinian flags in public places, in a move that has largely enraged Palestinians.
“Today I directed the Israel Police to enforce the prohibition of flying any PLO [Palestine Liberation Organization] flag that shows identification with a terrorist organization from the public sphere and to stop any incitement against the State of Israel,” Ben Gvir said on Twitter.
“We will fight terrorism and the encouragement of terrorism with all our might!” the Israeli minister added.
While Ben-Gvir’s very decision to ban the Palestinian flag from public places has triggered widespread condemnations, Ben-Gvir’s description of Palestine’s national symbol as that of a terrorist group has made matters worse.
Many Twitter users have flooded Ben-Gvir’s post with statements of condemnation, expressing their concerns with the newly formed government’s continuous anti-Palestanian decisions.
“Say you’re racist without saying you’re racist. People who are so afraid of a flag might be better off not keeping anyone safe,” wrote one Twitter user.
Other social media users retaliated by sharing photos of them waving the Palestinian flag, in a bold statement signifying their unwillingness to abide by the newly enforced rule.
יאללה תאכוף pic.twitter.com/vzwQPqdTfB
— Tom Kettner توم كتنر תום קטנר (@TomKettner2) January 9, 2023
The flag has an important value for Palestinians, as well as Arabs, as it is a symbol of Palestinian unity, resistance, and attachment to their national identity in face of the Israeli occupation.
Ben-Gvir’s recent move has added fuel to the fire as his storming of Al-Aqsa Mosque last Tuesday triggered widespread outrage, with several Arab nations expressing their condemnation following the minister’s provocative move.
These countries include Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt, among others, who also expressed concerns that Ben-Gvir’s move would increase tensions between Israel and Palestine.
Responding to the wave of criticism he has received, including that of Hamas ( Palestine’s Islamic Resistance Movement), Ben-Gvir said on Twitter: “The Temple Mount [Al-Aqsa Mosque] is open to everyone and if Hamas thinks that if it threatens me it will deter me, let them understand that times have changed. There is a government in Jerusalem!”
ממשלת ישראל שאני חבר בה לא תיכנע לארגון מרצחים שפל. הר הבית פתוח לכולם ואם החמאס חושב שאם הוא יאיים עליי זה ירתיע אותי, שיבינו שהשתנו הזמנים. יש ממשלה בירושלים! pic.twitter.com/vgDYBYacJG
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) January 3, 2023
