Israeli Flags Taken Down for Fascist Visit to the Village

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday November 13, 2002 16:30 by pat c

The UDA in South Belfast ordered the removal of all pro-Israeli signs and flags from the Village area because they didn't want to offend Nazi groups who were visiting the area over the weekend.

Andersonstown News
11 November 2002

Israeli Flags Taken Down for Fascist Visit to the Village
By Ciaran Barnes

The UDA in South Belfast ordered the removal of all pro-Israeli signs
and flags from the Village area because they didn't want to offend
Nazi groups who were visiting the area over the weekend.

The far-right loonies were in town to take part in the loyalist
terror group's Remembrance Day commemoration in which they honour
their slain paramilitary allies.

The Hitler-worshipping fanatics stayed at loyalist homes in both the
Village and Whitewell — areas where they have strong ties.

Then on Sunday they joined other loyalists who went en masse to
Roselawn ceremony to take part in the commemoration.

Like other loyalist hotbeds throughout the city, Israeli flags flew
from every other lamp post in the Village.

Sick graffiti glorifying the murder of Palestinians also adorned
walls in the area. But come last weekend, it had all disappeared.

Sinn Féin Balmoral representative Stiofán Long says the UDA's
Israeli u-turn proves that loyalists will court any group, no matter
how crazy, for support.

"If anything highlights loyalist stupidity then this is it," he said.
"I wouldn't be surprised if the pro-Israeli graffiti and flags went
back up as soon as the neo-Nazis are on the plane home.

"Neo-Nazis and fascists have always had close links with loyalists
and they are regular visitors to Belfast.

"Is it any wonder no one takes loyalist politics seriously when they
are bedfellows with groups such as the BNP and Combat 18?"

The Village is also home to a notorious mural glorifying race hate
group the Ku Klux Klan.

The mural, which went up last May, still remains in the area despite
calls from politicians from all sides to have it removed.