Jewish camp defends flying Palestinian flag, acknowledges ‘sadness, anger’ it caused

A camp affiliated with the Conservative movement defends flying a Palestinian flag “as a sign of friendship and acceptance” to visiting Palestinian Muslim and Christian students.

Camp Solomon Schechter in Washington State last week hosted members of Kids 4 Peace, including Christian and Muslim Palestinian children.

In a letter sent to parents and supporters following the visit the camp writes: “For the sake of a teachable moment, we did raise the Palestinian flag as a sign of friendship and acceptance. It was met with uncertainty by some campers and staff, especially the Israeli’s [sic], but all understood that the message of hope for peace by flying the Israeli flag alongside helped develop empathy. Still we plan to take down all the flags for Shabbat since there is no peace and also to relieve the sadness and anger that some feel by the site [sic] of the flag.” The letter also said that the camp “remain(s) unabashedly pro-Israel and we are celebrating Israel alongside our new friends.”

In the letter of apology sent Sunday and posted on the camp’s Facebook page, the camp indicates that the Kids 4 Peace group requested the raising of a Palestinian flag, alongside the US, Canadian and Israeli flags that are raised daily.

— JTA and Times of Israel staff