Palestinian flags to be targeted in crackdown

PALESTINIAN FLAGS TO BE TARGETED IN CRACKDOWN

DOV LIEBER  (The Australian, 11/1/2023)

( https://www.wsj.com/articles/israels-ben-gvir-orders-police-to-remove-palestinian-flags-from-public-space-11673284330?mod=world_lead_pos4 )

Israeli police have been ordered 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. Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s directive against a rallying symbol for many Palestinians comes during a period of deadly violence in the occupied West Bank.

“We will fight against terrorism and the encouragement of terrorism with all our might,” Mr Ben-Gvir tweeted.

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 an Israeli prison after being convicted of murdering an Israeli soldier.

About 20 per cent 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.

The measures announced on Friday include taking about $US40m from the tax Israel collects on behalf of the Palestinian Authority and transferring it to Israeli victims of Palestinian terrorism. Israel also froze Palestinian construction in areas under Israel’s complete control in the West Bank, halted benefits for senior Palestinian officials such as relatively easy freedom of movement and cracked down against organisations seen as promoting anti-Israeli activity under the guise of humanitarian work.

On Monday, Palestinian officials vowed to continue their diplomatic and legal campaign against Israel and warned that Israel’s measures could hasten the downfall of the Palestinian Authority, which has been suffering from a financial crisis for years as funding from international donors has waned.

Israeli and Palestinian security forces work together in the West Bank against militants.

The previous Israeli government said strengthening the Palestinian Authority was crucial to law and order in the West Bank and weakening its rival, Hamas, the Islamist militant group that controls the Gaza Strip and has fought numerous battles with Israel. THE WALL STREET JOURNAL