Israeli flag flyers threatened with arrest after being attacked by Pro-Palestine mob.

Just to clarify, not the first ever march I'd been on by a long shot, but the first relating to Israel's actions in Gaza since their last onslaught in I think 2014.

Why do you think 2 Israelis decided to go and wave their flags in the middle of a pro Palestine protest? Do you think it is because they are more 'nuanced' and mature than the people they wanted to insert themselves on the middle of?

This.

It’s interesting how you conflate Israel with being Jewish. You realise that lots of people with other religious beliefs live there too don’t you? You all do such a great job of telling on yourselves, it’s comical.

Not sure where I called on your humanity. I have no expectation of you.

You said we all have eyes and ears, I agree.

And the beauty of Britain is you get to fly that flag high, as do Israel supporters.
In the UK you should be celebrating your country on residence, especially when we have been told for attacks of British soil.

I'm not Jewish but have absolute solidarity with Israel for defending themselves against a death cult.

I'm Irish and like most irish people sympathise with the Palestinian cause coming from a country who has suffered immensly from colonisers .
I agree Oct 7th was awful and i do condemn any attack of innocent people but I can see how Hamas who have lived with a foot on their neck their whole lives could turn into terrorists trying anything to stop the people forcefully displacing them from their generational homes. Businesses and homes ripped from them by settlers who think god promised them that house. What Isreal has done with ethnic cleansing since 1948 Nakba and continues to do is disgusting. We all know isreal doesnt care about the hostsges they have been carpet bombing civilians in gaza with the sole purpose of occupying it. Hamas have offered the hostages return multiple times.

I couldn’t read the article, however I suppose that the police may have arrested the Israeli protesters for their own safety. Not that I’m saying such a measure OUGHT to be necessary, but they may have in that moment taken the operational decision that this was the prudent course of action before things turned ugly, as indeed many of these pro-Palestine rally’s have done.

I think that, generally speaking, it is harder for those who are (loosely speaking as it’s not a black and white one or the other situation) ‘pro Israel’ to say so, as the ‘pro Palestine’ people are, in general, more aggressive and more convinced of their righteousness. They are less nuanced in their view of the situation and more likely to engage in us v them thinking.

In this respect it’s similar to the trans / gender critical situation. Many of us have kept out mouths firmly shut in the workplace and even socially, because the TRAs are more aggressive. But the TRAs don’t represent the majority of people’s views by any means. And it’s possible to respect trans rights but not want them to encroach on women’s rights but most ‘trans rights’ people use insults instead of engaging in sensible discussion. That’s my experience, anyway.

I’m not sure it’s fair to say the UK is ‘pro Palestine’ and interpret that to mean ‘anti Israel’. The extent of civilian death and suffering in Gaza in this war is completely deplorable and I would expect almost everyone in this country to agree. Also, most people want the people of Gaza to have their own state. Where people differ is on where the chief responsibility lies. I see a lot of nuance from Israel supporters - most don’t like Netanyahu, most deplore the West Bank settlers, etc. Many pro-Palestine people seem incapable of blaming anyone or anything but Israel and quickly become aggressive and frankly unreasonable and childish - comments about even birds not liking the flag of Israel? I mean, come on.

I have no idea what world people are living in if they think that people aren't disgusted by Israel's treatment of Gaza. It is possible to be horrified by both October 7th and the starvation and shooting of children in Gaza.

Anyway, I was on the march on Saturday, it was the first I'd been on. As we came round the corner onto the Strand the top of Waterloo bridge was populated by protesters waving the Israeli flag, shouting 'fuck you, fuck you ' into their megaphone.

Everyone has a right to protest, but of course the policeman in that clip was right to keep the two groups apart. How would a street battle have helped anyone at this stage?

And your response perfectly encapsulates the problem. This actually is not about being pro or anti anything. It is about speaking up against genocide. And the fact that so many people seem to be unable to even critique never mind criticise Israel’s actions for the last 80 years in terms of their attempts at ethnic cleansing says it all.

Do not expect humanity when you refuse to show any.

As I said, my view is different.

I understand many in the republic are very pro-palestine for various reasons and for perhaps similar reasons nationalism is a differently loaded word than where I live.
Where I live, sectarian divisions are increasing as is the terrorist threat, these two facts are not unrelated.

How? Most Palestinians are living in an occupied land, being bombed and starved to death by an oppressing country which wants to see them ethnically cleansed from their own homes. Do you really believe that if Hamas gave up the few remaining hostages then Bibi and his ilk would say, “Thanks. That’s it folks. War’s over”?
I don’t believe this for one single minute. And fortunately nor do an awful lot of other people. People can see what the Israeli government are doing and they don’t agree with it one tiny bit.

And I know what I’ve seen in my several decades of existence and can see when a genocide is taking place.

This is the crux of it. There was an expectation that the rest of the world would fall for Israel’s narrative and it has failed spectacularly. We can all see what is happening and we are not falling for propaganda.

Do you mean that you have decided most people support Israel’s actions despite them saying otherwise or that they tell you they support Israel but only in private? Are you based in the UK and mixing with a range of people?

This poster has insisted this is the case on several threads even when they have been shown evidence that shows they are wrong. Maybe they think if they say it enough times then It will magically come true.

@HellsBalls that’s interesting because it truly is the exact opposite of my experience. Can I ask what part of the world you live in?

I know what I've seen in my several decades of existence and it's a different view to you.

https://lwid.dk/the-brief-story-of-legally-flying-national-flags-in-denmark/

....Anna Wilson, a financial services analyst from Scotland now living in Aalborg, also supports the banning of national flags: “I’ve grown up to associate flag-flying with negativity and even fear. Glasgow, where I come from, has a lot of historic divisions along religious lines and flags can often symbolise bigotry and fascism. When I moved to Denmark I was surprised by how differently flags are viewed. It’s about welcoming and celebrating people rather than oppressing them. And it’s about connection with Denmark’s closest neighbours. For me, it makes sense to limit what flags can be flown. It celebrates tradition and connection while minimising conflict.”

The palestinian flag has been used to intimidate Jewish communities before 7/10 and now also Jewish students trying to attend class since 7/10. If flags are going to create so much division that flying one gets you attacked then get rid of them all except the union and home nations flags.

As for the links to hate speech from @PickyBits twixlink; I hope the security services are all over that shit.

This a free country, are you saying Jewish people shouldn’t be on public streets?

No, I'm saying that Israelis(I take it that they were Israelis from your continued insistence that they should be able to fly 'their countries flag') should choose literally anywhere else but a pro Palestinian protest to go and fly their flag. I know this might be a radical idea but they could make their own march instead of hijacking someone else's.

I would say the same if there was a pro Israel march and 2 idiots with cameras and Palestinian flags decided they really needed to go and stand right in the middle of it and you know that you would agree. I would say the same if 2 pro life idiots decided to stand in the middle of a pro choice protest with their signs. Agitators don't belong in the middle of protests.

You realise we all have eyes and ears of our own don’t you? The propaganda machine failed a long time ago I’m afraid.

This happens at all pro Israel demos. We don't attack them!

My honest opinion of this is that the only flag that should be flown in public is the flag of that country, this should be an international for people to obey across the world and respect the country they are in. Allowing all flags to be flown but then banning some flags when it becomes a social or political issue, just creates conflict, division and ultimately primitive tribal responses. UK sees this more than most….Or alternatively, ban all flags…That might actually be a better option.