Is it true that in Israel the use of the Ukrainian flag was banned?

In early March 2023, Russian media and bloggers spread the news that the Israeli authorities introduced a large fine for the use of Ukrainian symbols. We decided to check if this is so.

March 4 on the ban on the demonstration of Ukrainian symbols in Israel wrote "Russian newspaper" - the official publication of the Government of Russia. The newspaper referred to the pro -Russian site Kherson-News, and the one, in turn, on the occupied territories of Ukraine, the television channel "Tavria". The news quickly dispersed on social networks: a TV presenter wrote about this in Telegram Ruslan Ostashko (recording in his channel at the time of writing this analysis gained more than 150,000 views), head of the Federation Council Committee on Defense Victor Bondarev, former official representative of the authorities of a self -proclaimed DPR Eduard Basurin and a permanent guest of programs on Russian federal television channels Israeli Yakov Kedmi.

No sources like links to publication in the Israeli media, statements of officials or entries in the register of legislative acts either on the Tavria television channel, or in the Rossiyskaya Gazeta are mentioned. Bloggers give the same evidence - two videos from Tiktok. These videos (at least one of them were published on February 27) and there is the very first mention of the news. Unknown bloggers, Without bringing No sources of information told about the introduction of a fine since the beginning of March. Now and first, And second The video is inaccessible.

"Russian newspaper", As mentioned above, did not give any evidence. But in addition to the published news, she recalled that earlier members of the city council of Jerusalem criticized the municipality for projecting Ukrainian and Russian flags on the walls of the old city. The publication refers to publication in the newspaper Haaretz. This really happened, but it happened a year ago, in March 2022.

The Russian Newspaper forgot to clarify that the indignation was not caused by the Ukrainian flag, but by the Russian one. Haaretz cites the opinion of Ofer Berkovich, who at that time was part of the city council. According to him, one should not forget who the aggressor is in this conflict, and therefore, the politician believes, the equivalent of the flags is inappropriate. Journalist Haaretz Nir Hasson at the same time wrote On Twitter: “While the municipalities of London, Paris, Rome, Melbourne, Berlin and other cities hang out Ukrainian flags on public buildings as a sign of sympathy for the victims, the municipality of Jerusalem draws the flags of both sides on the walls. What is this disgrace? " Thus, an addition to the discussion around the Ukrainian flag, a constant demonstration of which is allegedly dissatisfied with Israel, is misleading the reader.

It is not possible to find the very law that the video speaks of "local residents." Website Newsru.co.il, having examined the story about the ban on the Ukrainian flag in detail, believes that the tickcers (and after them the official printing authority of the Government of the Russian Federation) turned the February statements of the deputy of the Knesset. Zvi Sukkota, representative of the right party "OCMA Yehudit". Sukkot I put forward Legislative initiative on a fine of 10,000 shekels (approximately $ 2750) for demonstrating the flags of terrorist organizations. He proposed an amendment to the existing The law of 2016 “On the fight against terror”, which provides for responsibility for the “public expression of solidarity with a terrorist or terrorist organization, an expression of sympathy for the terrorist, burning the flag of Israel, the publication of symbolism of terrorist organizations.” However, the flags of Palestinian organizations can still be seen in Israel, to which the deputy draws attention to.

But again, it is not clear what it has to do with the Ukrainian flag. The deputy of Zvi Sukkot, known for his struggle against the Palestinians and the flags of Palestine, spoke precisely about Palestinian symbolism. Israeli "Channel 14" Curses His words: "The immediate blow to the pocket will weaken the motivation, this decision will avoid incitement to violence and save the lives of the Jews." That is, it is unlikely that the initiative of Sukkot can be considered something else than a struggle with internal opponents. Finally, his amendment has not yet been accepted and the fine does not threaten anyone.

In social networks, in recent days (when, according to bloggers, a fine is already in a fine of the Ukrainian flag) you can find many photos with the same “forbidden” symbol. For example, photo From Jerusalem:

And here Fresh photo From the beach Tel Aviva:

Thus, the news distributed about the law adopted in Israel, which provides for a major fine for demonstrating the Ukrainian flag, is not true. There is no such law, and so far no one has even made such a proposal. Finally, in Comments The fact of the STOPFAKE FASTENSED Site Israeli Embassy in Ukraine stated that "Israel has never forbidden and does not prohibit the demonstration of the Ukrainian flag."

Photo on the cover: a rally in Tel Aviv in support of Ukraine, February 24, 2023. Source: Newsru.co.il

Not true

What do our verdicts mean?

Read on the topic:

1. Newsru.co.il. Russian and pro -Russian media are distributing a fake about the "prohibition in Israel of Ukrainian symbols".
2. Stopfake. Fake: In Israel, the use of the Ukrainian flag was banned.
3. Is it true that at the camp of Ukrainian refugees in Spain they hung a poster “No flags"?