Because of the Palestinian flag.. Israeli police detain a writer and confiscate his 'kippah' in Modi'in

The city of Modi'in witnessed an incident that sparked widespread controversy after Israeli police detained British-Israeli writer Alex Sinclair, on the grounds of wearing a religious kippah bearing the symbols of both the Israeli and Palestinian flags. Sources reported that the incident began inside a cafe where the writer usually worked, where he was verbally attacked by an individual who claimed that the kippah violated the law, leading to the immediate summoning of security forces to the scene.

Upon the arrival of the security force, officers informed Sinclair that the symbol he was wearing was illegal, which the writer vehemently denied, asserting that there was no legislative text preventing the combination of flags on clothing or religious symbols. The discussion quickly escalated into a field detention, where the writer was transferred to the police station under threat of physical force, and all his personal belongings, including his mobile phone and laptop, were confiscated.

Sinclair, 53, described the conditions of his detention as shocking and confusing, as he was placed in solitary confinement and denied access to water or communication with his family to inform them of his whereabouts. He indicated that this arbitrary measure continued for several hours without any clear legal justification or formal charges being brought against him, reflecting an escalation in dealing with political symbols that call for coexistence.

The kippah, the subject of the dispute, holds significant moral value for the writer, as he explained that he has been wearing it for nearly twenty years as an expression of his complex identity that combines religious affiliation and a political stance advocating for the recognition of the other. Sinclair considered the security elements' act of cutting the Palestinian flag from the kippah a blatant assault on a religious and personal symbol, and an overstepping of the powers granted to the police in dealing with citizens.

After the investigations concluded, Sinclair was released without any charges, but he was surprised upon receiving his belongings that the kippah had been deliberately damaged by cutting off the part bearing the Palestinian flag. The writer confirmed that the police did not provide any official explanation or receipt proving the confiscation or modification of his property, but rather he was asked to leave the station immediately without completing the legal procedures followed in such cases.

For its part, the Israeli police issued a brief statement acknowledging the incident, indicating that the measures taken against Sinclair fell under the category of 'clarifying the situation' before his release. Police sources avoided commenting on the direct accusations related to the destruction of the kippah or the ill-treatment the writer was subjected to during his detention in solitary confinement.

In a legal response, Alex Sinclair announced that he would file a formal complaint against the police force, accusing them of illegal detention and deliberate destruction of private property. Observers believe that this incident goes beyond being an isolated event, highlighting the increasing tensions within Israeli society towards Palestinian symbols, and the erosion of spaces for freedom of expression and the recognition of different political identities.

Destroying the kippah represents an infringement on a religious symbol of deep value, and what happened reflects broad issues related to the limits of freedom of expression.