Palestinians whitewash rainbow flag protest

Palestinians whitewashed over a section of the West Bank separation wall hours after it was painted with a rainbow flag associated around the world with support for gay rights.

The rainbow flag was painted by 39-year-old Palestinian artist Khaled Jarrar, according to the UK newspaper The Guardian, who said it was to remind people of the ongoing Israeli occupation while same-sex couples now had the right to marry in the US.

However, local Palestinians regarded the flag as an endorsement of gay rights. Homosexuality is generally regarded as a taboo subject in Palestinian society.

Muhammad al-Amleh, a 46-year-old lawyer, told the Guardian: "It would be shameful to have the flag of gays in our refugee camp."

On Tuesday, Jarrar told the Associated Press the whitewashing "reflects the absence of tolerance and freedoms in Palestinian society".