Jewish Federation says vandal attacks Israeli flag on Parkway

Philadelphia police are investigating alleged vandalism of the Israeli flag along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway on Friday morning.

Lori Lowenthal Marcus, legal director of the Deborah Project, described as a “public interest law firm that affirms and defends the civil rights of Jews facing discrimination,” shared a photo of what appeared to be red paint smeared on the Israeli flag along the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in downtown.

This flag is hanging on the most iconic street in Philadelphia, where flags from every country in the world hang. The City of Brotherly Love has received permission from its leaders (including the Philadelphia School District) to become the City of Jew Hatred. image.twitter.com/I5ogy9WNFl

— Lori LowenthalMarcus (@LoriLMarcus) July 19, 2024

The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia also released a statement Friday saying the flag was vandalized.

“The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia strongly condemns the vandalism of an Israeli flag on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway this morning,” a spokesperson for the organization wrote. “This defacement, which followed last night’s terrorist attack in Israel, was intended to threaten and intimidate the Jewish community of Greater Philadelphia, further contributing to rising levels of anti-Semitism nationwide. We appreciate the work of Mayor Parker’s office to quickly remove the defaced flag, sending a clear message that there is no tolerance for anti-Semitism and hate in Philadelphia.”

NBC10 responded to the Parkway on Friday afternoon and saw an Israeli flag, which was new in appearance, hanging on its designated flagpole, which is located near the Horwitz-Wasserman Holocaust Memorial Plaza.

A photograph of the Israeli flag on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway that was taken during the afternoon of Friday, July 19, 2024.

NBC10 reached out to the City of Philadelphia to confirm the vandalism. We were referred to Philadelphia Police, who confirmed they are investigating the reported vandalism, but had no further information.

The alleged vandalism occurred hours after an Iranian-made drone sent by Yemen’s Houthi rebels attacked Tel Aviv, Israel, on Friday, leaving at least one person dead and at least 10 others wounded, according to the Israeli military.

In 2018, a man was arrested for allegedly spraying red paint on the Israeli flag along the Parkway.