Full Breakdown
Israeli Police Detain Lecturer Over Dual-Flag Kippah, Sparking Debate on Expression and Police Conduct
4/25/2026, 6:48:38 AM
Detention Over Dual-Flag Kippah
On Monday in Modiin, Alex Sinclair, a 53-year-old Hebrew University lecturer, was reported for wearing a kippah embroidered with Israeli and Palestinian flags. Police declared the head covering “against the law,” confiscated it, and detained Sinclair for 20 minutes before releasing him. When he requested the kippah back, an officer returned it with the Palestinian emblem removed. Sinclair posted the incident on Facebook, noting he has worn the dual-flag kippah for two decades.
Legal Context for Flag Displays
Israeli law does not ban the Palestinian flag, and courts treat it as protected speech. Police may remove symbols deemed a threat to public order. In 2023, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir ordered police to remove Palestinian flags, a policy the Association for Civil Rights in Israel (ACRI) called illegal.
Key Participants
Key participants are Alex Sinclair, the Hebrew University lecturer; Modiin police officers who detained him; the Hebrew University, which condemned the action; Democrats Party leader Yair Golan and Knesset member Gilad Kariv, who called for legal action; ACRI; and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, whose 2023 directive targets Palestinian flags.
Official Statements & Responses
Police said they responded to a hotline report of a man wearing a kippah with a Palestinian flag, detained him, and released him after a “clarification process.” The Hebrew University called the incident a “blatant violation of freedom of expression.” ACRI said the police action breached autonomy and religious dignity. Yair Golan called it “the collapse of the Israeli police.”
Criticism & Opposition
Democrats Party officials, including Yair Golan and Knesset member Gilad Kariv, denounced the police action as a civil-liberties breach and urged a criminal probe and civil lawsuit. ACRI called the conduct “sheer madness and absurdity,” warning it undermines democratic norms.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She had cut out the Palestinian flag,” — Alex Sinclair, Hebrew University
- “It’s hard not to say that this is the kind of thing that fascist regimes do.” — Alex Sinclair
- “Once again, the Israel Police is acting in line with the minister's agenda and contrary to the law," the ACRI said in a statement, referring to Ben Gvir.” — ACRI
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sinclair says an officer cut the Palestinian emblem from his kippah; police statements note only detention and release, without mentioning alteration. The internal investigation by the Department for Internal Police Investigations is ongoing, leaving procedural details unclear.
What’s Next
Sinclair filed a complaint with the Department for Internal Police Investigations, seeking compensation and assurance he can wear his kippah freely. Gilad Kariv’s call for a criminal probe and civil suit suggests possible legal action. The case fuels debate over symbolic expression, police authority, and Ben Gvir’s flag-removal policy.
