And still more to come .... more emigrants out of Israel ... more isolation ... you are a temprory state ... soon or later will end and this flag and this name Israel will be just memory or just spot on the maps . study your short history since you came to this area and with wich dreams you came and how is it now then you can imagin how you will be ...... nightmare .

Another misleading article that we have become accustom to in ynet. To begin with, who has ever proven that there is a relationship between flag sales and patriotism? That is a very dumb premise.

Not flying the national flag demonstrates to our enemies that we are not proud of our country. We Israelis as a group and the settler community in particular need to distinguish between our country, of which we can be justly very proud indeed, as represented by our flag and the goverment which has little, if anything, to commend it and is represented by self-serving nonentities. Fly the flag proudly and joyously. The flag is for ever. The present government is of limited duration thanks to our democracy.

same as garlic !!!! whose country is this ?? mmm ... think of Iscar for a starter, and Barry for the meal, bon appetit !

Perhaps people are not buying new flags because they still have the ones from last year? I also find alot of the flags that have fallen off cars lying in the roadway mangled under the wheels of passing cars,it is a shame. We save our flags every year,I am wondering where I can find an American flag for the 4th of July to add to my collection.

for burning - to be mekayem "bi'ur chametz".

And they even have a party called "Degel HaTorah".

Flag sales are down because importers are geting them from China. Is that what this article is really all about? What has patrionism got to do with this? Sounds like Hadassa Berman isnt going to make a fortune this year and is friends with the author, Yehudit Yahav.

I bought a Jerusalem Flag in Jerusalem and and Israel Flag in Tel Aviv when I first visited Israel this past December, January. I´m proud of Israel. Keep strong. Shalom Tom

That is what i feel towards the state and what it represents. So i have stopped putting up a flag a couple of years ago. The whole socalled israeli culture and what it stands for has no foundation nor purpose. Despite all affords by the media to create this secular democratic picture of a humanistic state, most of us know how ruthless this state has become towards its citizens. With the media up front many groups get dehumanized and made look bad. Israel has jewish symbols , but it has no jewish foundation nor law. Just reading and following this webside, makes one's head spin in disbelieve off how disconnected our socalled intulectuals are. Herzelism has become a failure in many ways,because it goes against our true roots as a nation. The way we are going now,i think a flag is the least off our worries. Pride and patriotism is a internal thing, that is based on what values a country adheres to. For me i am not impressed by the values this state project nor pursues.

What wild exaggeration! It seems the media has even infected you, leading you and also #1 to conclude that Israel's end is nigh, albeit for different reasons. Israel is stronger than its ever been but has a population with unreasonably high expectations of itself. That said there is no room for complacency. And there is no shortage of flags flying where I live. Every year people talk about whether there are more or less flags, just another little Israeli querk and another meaningless "state of the nation" assessment.

the real zionists were made homeless by the looters in power and their allies

Nor does it symbolize a political movement. The “Settlers” are probably some of the most Zionist of Israelis and I am sure that while they have issues with the Government, they certainly would not allow this to cloud their Zionism and expressions of loyalty to the State, such as flying the national flag. Many "citizens" of our country do not recognize the State of Israel although the country provides them with the means to live and the right of freedom of expression much of which is not afforded to the citizens of some of our neighboring countries. Their objection to the "Jewish State" has no basis. For example, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs and others who are citizens of the United Kingdom do not object to the fact that Britain is a Christian country where the oath is taken on the Christian Bible and the head of state is crowned in a church. Members of other religions are entitled to choose their method of oath taking as they are in Israel. Others have come to Israel by the Law of Return and have been granted Israeli Citizenship under that law without any formal ceremony of pledge of allegiance. Our children go to school and do study civics and are taught the history of Zionism and the History of the State of Israel. However, there is no “assembly” in our schools and unlike their American counterparts, do not recite a Pledge of Allegiance every day. No doubt there are many who would say that this is unnecessary. If that is the case then you cannot criticize people for a lack of displaying patriotism although, at heart, they are indeed loyal to our land and serve with distinction in the army. Many have paid the ultimate price for their loyalty and duty. Finally, there is the issue of the way our leaders and politicians behave. Our society is totally undisciplined and we have descended into a state verging on anarchy. Many feel that with the corruption we see every day, the disgusting behavior of some of our public officials and the failure of law and order, there is just no reason to be patriotic. A point to remember is that many of us bought flags during the war last year and still have them. The bottom line on the flag flying situation will be the amount of flags that we will see on Independence Day next week. I am sure there will be a great deal of “blue and white” flying around in the smoke of the BBQ!

unfortunately where I leave the population is so small that you will only get national flags. I can remember during the time of the israeli-hizbullah war, I saw a guy driving with a large israeli flag on his car. Oh how envious was I! So you can understand why I just don't get it, after all what jews have gone through, genocide at the hands of false christians,hitler and the never ending terror of radical muslims, why this now. I have enormous respect for israel, simply because as a nation that that is constantly demonized, is surrounded by hostile neighbours and having endured genocides, you are still standing strong, with one of the strongest economies in the middle east despite you having no oil. So please guys please show the world that are still strong by purchasing your flag. P.S Can anyone here advise me on a website or have any info to hell me get an israli flag that would be fantastic?

As you can read from my address I live in the Golan. I am not a secular Israeli living in Shenkin Street in Tel Aviv. Yet I disagree with you 100%. All Jews in Israel MUST remain united. We are surrounded by enemies who would like nothing better than for us to fight amoung ourselves. Even if you are against the current government you should not be against the country. And let me remind you David that if it was not for Theodore Herzyl you would not be living in Judea and I would not be living in the Golan. Remember the saying "don't throw the baby out with the bathwater". Stay patriotic and fly the Israeli flag with pride!

you'll remain in the Golan? Israel's foolish officials are ready to sell it for a few pennies and even that not - only for a few promises from arab liars.

check this: http://www.israelmilitary.com/ They can send it to you shalom

I, for one, see Israeli flags everywhere I go, including fluttering from car windows on the highways. If there has been a drop in flag sales among individuals, one reason is that for the past several years flags and strings of small flags have been distributed for free in just about all the newspapers the weekend before Yom Ha'atzma'ut. So, people hang up those flags proudly, and then use the shekels they save to buy more supplies for their Independence Day barbecue. Hag Atzma'ut sameah to everyone :-)

What rubbish. They are calling people unpatriotic if they don't buy flags. Every household all ready has plenty of flags. Do not call people unpatriotic in order to make money for your greedy heart.

I don't blame anyone for not "feeling" like flying the flag. while i try and try to separate the government from the state, I can no longer be honest with myself and pledge allegiance to that flag wholeheartedly. Yes, I know it's the only one we got. Yes, I know that it is because of the state that the begining of kibbutz galiot has started and yes i know it is because of the state's army that we remain here. BUT, how can I ever look at the flag the same as I did years ago?! It would be dishonest. as to whether or not to say hallel anymore on YH, thats a whole other depressing issue....

can't say we find it so easy to be Mamlachti outside of Efrat!

You are poor one ... i know the truth hurting sometimes but it is like this and your paralised answer shows that you didn't find what to say more than this .

I have been trying to buy one for days, last year I was pestered all the time by sellers. This year I have not managed to find one close to me at a traffic light yet

I agree with you 100%. I am very proud of my country and proud to be Israeli. I am ashamed of our government. And I havent bought any flags this year, I still have mine from last year, so what do the figures mean? Hogwash!

And I use all of them... But it is true, i see less flags this year.