The Jewish lobby & the embassy of Israel in Italy are having a total meltdown over artwork by an Italian artist,Constantino Cervo,depicting Anne Frank wearing a keffiyeh and demanding the artwork be removed.

In November 2017, a doctored image of Israeli President Rivlin wearing a keffiyeh was seen in 2017 following the president's refusal to grant the Hebron shooter Elor Azaria a pardon. Azaria is an Israeli Death Forces (IDF) soldier who fatally shot Abdel Fattah al-Sharif, a Palestinian, in the head as the latter lay wounded and immobile on the ground near Hebron.

In November 1995, before PM Rabin was assassinated, Netanyahu attended a right-wing political rally where protesters decried Rabin as a "traitor" and "Nazi" and held signs of him wearing a keffiyeh. 

I do not recall that Palestinians took offense or felt insulted by either act. In fact, both Israeli leaders looked more dignified wearing the Palestinian head dress, better known as "keffiyeh" or "victory scarf."

Yasser Arafat's adoption of the keffiyeh became synonymous with the Palestinian cause. He famously addressed the United Nations in 1974 while wearing the keffiyeh, which became an unofficial flag of Palestine.

What do the colors of keffiyeh means:

Alumar Shemagh described its meaning in article in "Alfajr" on Nov 12, 2025, " The keffiyeh is more than fabric — it is identity, memory, and belonging woven into threads. Across centuries, it has traveled from the deserts of Arabia to the streets of Jerusalem and the mountains of Kashmir, carrying with it the dignity of those who wore it. Every color, every pattern, and every fold speaks its own language." 

The Black & White Keffiyeh — The Heartbeat of Palestine. Shermagh stated that it is perhaps the most globally recognized form of the garment. It is rooted deeply in Palestinian heritage, it became a powerful emblem of resistance, identity, and unity. Farmers originally wore it to shield against the harsh desert climate but during the 20th century it evolved into a symbol of collective dignity and self-determination.

The Red & White Keffiyeh — The Symbol of Tribal Heritage and Leadership. It is iconic across Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Arabian Peninsula. it embodies leadership, courage, and tradition. Historically, it was worn by Bedouin tribes as both protection from desert winds and a mark of identity — each tribe had its preferred pattern.

The White Keffiyeh — The Symbol of Purity and Dignity. Shermagh described it as the typical garment of the Gulf region, particularly in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Kuwait, and Qatar. Its simplicity is its strength — representing purity, spirituality, and dignity. It’s commonly worn during prayers, business meetings, and ceremonies, draped neatly with an agal to secure it in place.

Freedom of expression for Palestinians under the occupation is not limited to clothing. Last February, plain-clothed Israeli police officers vandalized a decades-old bookstore in occupied East Jerusalem. The February raid on two branches of the Educational Bookshop – a well-known bookstore popular among Palestinians, Israelis, and foreigners according to CNN's Jerusalem office. 

Witnesses to the raid said police were looking for any book containing the word “Palestine,” a Palestinian flag, its colors, or any symbol of Palestinian national or political identity. The owner of the store Mahmoud Muna spent two days in custody and was under house arrest for five days after which he was not allowed to be in his bookshop for another two weeks. 

The charges against him were downgraded from incitement to “disrupting public order.” Imagine the outrage of the owners of Jewish bookstores were to be arrested for selling books about the Holocaust. We will never hear the end of it.

That being said, isn't it funny that Israel always accuses Palestinian and Muslims of not tolerating freedom of expression. Actually, Anne Frank looks lovely and graceful with a keffiyeh!

Mahmoud El-Youseph is a Palestinian freelance writer and retired U.S. Air Force veteran. He writes on U.S. foreign policy, Middle East affairs, and justice. Email: elyousseph6@yahoo.com