The State of Israel

The National Flag of Israel

דגל ישראל

5 months after the state of Israel was founded in 1948, they adopted the current flag that is in use today. A white field with 2 blue stripes running horizontally top and bottom, and a blue Star of David placed in the centre. The stripes originate from the Tallit, a Jewish prayer shawl. The Star of David is widely seen as the emblem of Judaism, so as Israel is a Jewish state, it made sense to incorporate the Star.

The colour blue comes from Tekhelet, a difficult dye to create, and associated with royalty. A long time ago! The bible commands the Jews to put blue into the Tallit, so that when they are praying, they will be reminded of their God above. 

However, this flag was inspired in part by flags being used back in the late 1890's, when various cities used flags with the Star of David on, and a colour palette of blue and white. 

The flag is not without controversy. One linked directly to the flag is the "Nile to the Euphrates Controversy." This states a widely held (and debunked) belief in the Arab world that the 2 stripes stand for the rivers Nile and Euphrates, and that Israel harbours secret desires to expand Israel to control the land from the Nile, to the Euphrates. This would end up annexing Jordan, and parts of Egypt, and Iraq.

Again. The stripes come from the Tallit...