Knesset advances opposition bill banning Palestinian flags at state-funded institutions

Students stage pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba on May 23, 2022. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)
Students stage pro-Palestinian and pro-Israel protests at Ben-Gurion University in Beersheba on May 23, 2022. (Emanuel Fabian/Times of Israel)

The Knesset has advanced through a preliminary reading an opposition bill banning Palestinian flags from being hung at state-funded institutions.

The vote is 63 for and 16 against, with lawmakers from the New Hope and Yamina parties — including Prime Minister Naftali Bennett voting alongside opposition MKs.

Although Palestinian flags have sometimes been prohibited or confiscated by police, they are not illegal. The legislative push, which began ahead of Sunday’s nationalist Jerusalem Day Flag March, follows criticism of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev after Palestinian flags were displayed during a recent rally at the school in Beersheba.

Responding to the criticism, the university noted in a statement that the events showed that students from all segments of Israeli society at the campus were able to “hold a variety of opinions and views.”

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.