Israeli Flags Vandalized in West Bank's Binyamin Council, Officials Demand Strong IDF Response

Israeli flags placed by the Binyamin Regional Council at the Rewabi Square in western Binyamin were vandalized with paint over the weekend. The council stated that Arab individuals sprayed paint on the flags, which had stood undisturbed for several months since being installed with volunteers and the Im Tirtzu movement to symbolize Israeli presence and sovereignty in the area.

The council linked the timing of the vandalism to recent incidents in Kusra and a public campaign against settler violence, which they claim encourages hostile elements. The flag defacement coincided with other security incidents in Binyamin during the weekend, including gunfire toward the settlement of Psagot, an attack on a shepherd, and a suspicious device attached to a flag near the Metzad David farm by militants.

Binyamin Council Chairman and Yesha Council head Israel Gantz warned that portraying isolated events as representative harms Israel's sovereignty and risks serious security escalation. He emphasized that a sovereign state must protect its symbols and called for a firm and uncompromising response from the Israel Defense Forces. Gantz stated, "We demand a sharp and uncompromising IDF response. We must act decisively now before paying a heavy price. We will restore the flags soon and will not allow terrorists to prevail." The council is coordinating with the IDF to restore the flags promptly.