The police detained three suspects today (Saturday) afternoon for waving the Palestinian flag during a demonstration in the German colony in Haifa.
Dozens of police officers were deployed at the demonstration site in order to allow the demonstrators to exercise their right to hold a protest, while maintaining their safety, the safety of the residents and visitors to the “Holiday of the Holidays” festival, and public order. During the demonstration, three demonstrators – two Haifa residents aged 67 and 20 and a 31-year-old resident of Barkan – waved Palestinian flags. After it was explained to them by the commander of the event that waving Palestinian flags could violate public order and harm public security due to the thousands of visitors at the site, the demonstrators were instructed to take down the flags. If they did not do so, the commander of the force ordered to detain the three for failing the police and violating public order.
The suspects were brought in for questioning at the police station in Haifa, and depending on the findings of the investigation, the police will consider whether to ask to extend their detention at the Haifa Magistrate’s Court.