Anti-occupation group joins in weekly anti-government protest

Palestinian flags wave over Tel Aviv’s Kaplan Street, as anti-occupation protesters assert their stance after largely conceding to pressure to down the nationalist symbol in last Saturday’s protest.

Chanting “there’s no such thing as justice and occupation,” dozens of left-wing Israelis hold court in a prominent corner.

“It’s not a nationalist thing,” to Liam Bernheimer, 20, from Petah Tikva. “This flag represents the millions of people who live here under the Israeli government and they don’t really have human rights. Because this flag represents them, I wave it.”

“Yea, sure, the right and maybe center left will say it’s ruining the cause,” says Bernheimer, especially in the backdrop of increased sensitivities following this weekend’s terror attacks, “but I think if we fight for a state that doesn’t have rights for everyone, it’s not a democracy.”