Seven flags, one memory: The 'Otef Israel' project seeks to connect commemoration, heritage and unity
The 'Otef Israel' project, a social-national initiative by five entrepreneurs and reservists, has erected seven giant flags across the country as landmarks of memory and unity. The first flag was raised in Nitzanei Oz in August 2026 at a ceremony attended by the president. The site spans about 800 square meters and serves as a collective commemoration and gathering space.
The 'Otef Israel' project, a social-national initiative led by five entrepreneurs and reservists, aims to establish seven giant flags across the country as landmarks of memory, unity, Jewish identity, and heritage. The first flag was raised on August 18, 2026, in Nitzanei Oz, near the Brigade 5 memorial, at a ceremony attended by President Isaac Herzog, bereaved families, the chairman of KKL-JNF, local council heads, and former hostage Elkana Bohbot. The flag flies on a 61-meter-tall pole, the tallest in Israel. The site spans about 800 square meters and includes hospitality and seating areas, benches, a pergola, water fountains, electrical outlets, and a path, designed as a commemoration and meeting site for families, schools, and groups. The project emerged from a meeting of the founders' personal stories, including a resident of the Gaza envelope who was evacuated from his home and a reservist who served over 200 days, combined with a sense of national mission. Establishing the site in Nitzanei Oz took about three years, and the Lev HaSharon Regional Council donated the land. The project plans to establish additional sites across the country.