Arab and leftist students wave PLO flag at TAU
Arab and leftist students wave PLO flag at TAUFlash 90

Dozens of Arab students protested at Ben Gurion University of the Negev on Tuesday, waving Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) flags and stating they were "against the occupation." 

Jewish students arrived waving Israeli flags for a counter-protest, Walla! News reports, and stood for a minute of silence in memory of the fallen soldiers. Memorial Day begins Tuesday night. 

Im Tirzu director Matan Peleg joined the counter-protest. 

"Shame on Arab and extreme leftist students studying at Ben-Gurion for this event - demonstrating on Memorial Day eve," Peleg fumed, noting that it's only through the actions of fallen soldiers that such a protest is even possible. 

"This is highly detrimental to the Arab majority, which aspires to integrate into Israeli society and wants to be a part of it." 

"The timing of the demonstration was primarily designed to harm bereaved families and the citizens of Israel who mourn today the memory of their loved ones," he added. "This is blatant hypocrisy. "

MK Oded Forer (Yisrael Beytenu) also made a statement against the protest, calling them "salt in our wounds" and offering to "transfer them to Bir Zeit University in Ramallah, or Damascus University."