Al-Qaida Flags Fly Near Kosel

Flags of al- Qaida have been seen flying atop what is called the Kosel Hakatan (Small Kosel), a continuation of the Kosel located in the Muslim Quarter of the Old City of Yerushalayim.

Avichail Weizmann, a resident of the Old City and a student at Yeshivat Hakotel in the Jewish Quarter, told Arutz Sheva that he noticed several flags with Arabic writing flying over the Kotel Hakatan, which turned out to be the symbol of al-Qaida.

After complaining to police about it, he was informed that the flags were of a “religious nature” outside the police’s purview.

In addition, Weizmann said that municipal signs and other symbols of Israeli sovereignty in the Old City are torn down or destroyed on a regular basis. Numerous contacts with city officials yielded no action, he said.

The Justice Ministry said recently that anyone who displays the flags or other symbols associated with ISIS, Hamas, Hizbullah, or other terror organizations will be subject to arrest and prosecution.

“When such flags and symbols are displayed, police must judge if there is a possibility of public disorder or disturbance, or of danger to the public,” Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein said in a letter. “If there is, police should take steps to remove the flags. “

“In appropriate cases, charges may be made against perpetrators,” the letter added.

According to Weizmann, the flags are still there.

This article appeared in print on page 10 of the September 16th, 2014 edition of Hamodia.