War over a giant flag in one of Israel's elite locales: why it was taken down

In Kfar Shmaryahu, a 40-meter flagpole with an Israeli flag measuring 10 by 17 meters was dismantled after a legal dispute between owner Boaz Hayon and the local council. Hayon installed the flag after October 7, aiming to unite the people, but the council insists on compliance with court decisions and building regulations. Hayon plans to transport the flag to other communities.

In the upscale community of Kfar Shmaryahu, on Tuesday, August 11, a huge Israeli flag that had flown over the community for the past two years was dismantled. The 40-meter flagpole with a flag measuring 10 by 17 meters was removed after a prolonged legal dispute between the local council and owner Boaz Hayon. The court ordered the structure to be dismantled. Hayon, who was under the flag at the time of removal, told Ynet about mixed feelings: he did it with the intention of uniting the people and believes he succeeded. He decided not to appeal, as such an appeal would not unite society. The Kfar Shmaryahu council rejected his version, stating that the local planning commission issued an administrative demolition order, and Hayon's appeals were rejected by the courts. There is also mention of a court injunction against Hayon regarding harassment of council employees. Hayon plans to transport the flag to various communities in Israel, warning of high maintenance costs. He explained that he installed the flag after the October 7 massacre to show the enemy that Israelis remain. The council insists that the conflict is not related to the council head but concerns respect for court decisions. Hayon rejected accusations of trying to obtain a building permit, stating that the site will never be sold. The council categorically rejected his claims, pointing to violations of building regulations.