Flag ‘a sign of what we’re fighting for’

THE Israeli flag has become a symbol of resistance by protesters taking part in mass-rallies against proposed judicial changes that would strip Israel’s Supreme Court of powers typically held by judiciaries in democratic countries, according to Lesley Sachs.

The vice-chair of the Israel Movement for Progressive Judaism visited Sydney and Melbourne for the United Israel Appeal’s Progressive Appeal, speaking to audiences at Emanuel Synagogue and Temple Beth Israel, and at fundraising events.

Addressing Union for Progressive Judaism supporters at a private event in Melbourne, Sachs said demonstrators are proudly hoisting their Israeli flags because their concerns are for the future of the Israel they live in and love.

“If you walk around in the street [in Israel this month] with a flag, everybody knows where you stand, if you hang a flag on your balcony, everybody knows … it has become a sign of what we’re fighting for and what we believe in.

“You cannot imagine that feeling of being amongst 200,000 people … three quarters of the protesters have a flag. We have all kinds of people, including parents with little children, who wrap their children up in the flag, and there are even people using walkers who are part of the demonstrations.”

Sachs said the imminent legislative tsunami goes well beyond changes weakening the judiciary, extending into legislative changes proscribing freedoms of minority groups.

She predicted gender segregation on buses and in other public places. “When you go to see doctors, there will be days for men and days for women. We’re having Independence Day soon, and they want to make sure that women don’t sing on the main platforms.”

Sachs said Diaspora Jews need “to fight for the Israel that we all want.”

Donate to the UIA Progressive Appeal: https://www.upj.org.au/progressive-appeal/donate

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