A new bill, introduced on Wednesday, August 22, by lawmaker Anat Berko of the right-wing Likud party, would prohibit the raising of the Palestinian flag at demonstrations in Israel.

If the bill is made law, anyone caught breaking the flag ban while protesting could be subject to up to a year in prison. For this legislation a protest will be defined as the joint assembly of at least three persons. The bill will be read before the Knesset after the summer recess.

A Palestinian flag is held aloft by an activist during an Israeli and Palestinian protest near the Gaza-Israel fence in solidarity with the residents of the blockaded enclave following the deaths of 16 Gazans killed by the Israeli army on March 30, 2018, the first day of the “Great March of Return.” (Photo: Activestills)

“The flag of enemies should not be tolerated in the public sphere,” Berko told the Jerusalem Post. “This cannot be allowed and it must be enforced.” She reportedly expects the government will pass the bill quickly once Knesset is in session.

“Those who think Arab-Palestinians citizens must prove their loyalty to Israel by denying their national identity are very wrong,” said Joint List MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Hadash) adding that the Palestinian flag is a symbol of the struggle to end the occupation of the Palestinian territories.