Kiryat Ono resident arrested on suspicion of involvement in the act • Mayor Carmel Shama HaCohen: "There is no difference between burning the Israeli flag in Tehran and a pride flag in Ramat Gan"

• Pride cases of pride flags continue

  Photo: 

  Noam Rivkin Fenton - Archive

The arson of the pride flags in Ramat Gan continues after a report of another arson incident was received last night (Wednesday). There were no casualties but property was damaged.

Police forces who arrived at the scene carried out extensive searches that led to the locating of the suspect in the act. The suspect, an 18-year-old resident of Kiryat Ono, tried to flee the scene and was arrested after a foot chase. He was brought for questioning at the police station after an interrogation and was imprisoned and today his detention was extended in the Magistrate's Court in Tel Aviv until tomorrow.

Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama HaCohen condemned the incident and said: "There is almost no difference between burning Israeli flags in Tehran and burning LGBT flags in Ramat Gan. Both actions are driven by free hatred, unnecessary fears and ignorance. The only difference in Tehran is cheering for the burning of the flags and in Ramat Gan they despise it and react with determination. We have no doubt - the flag of Israel will defeat all its burners and so will the flag of pride. As early as tomorrow, the entire arson area will be flagged with dozens of flags. "

Israel Zari, holder of the portfolio for the promotion of the proud community in the municipality: "The incendiary cases" that have plagued Ramat Gan in recent months are the product of many years of misconduct regarding the proud community in the State of Israel in general and in the city of Ramat Gan in particular.

"Fortunately, Ramat Gan is one of the pioneering cities that chooses to confront the problem and not sweep it under the rug. These cases indicate ignorance and free hatred. In light of the cases, we will continue to hang flags in the affected areas, and work to establish an educational and practical program," he added.