The Israel flay was hoisted on Mt. Sinai, where, according to the Bible, Moses received the Ten Commandments and where the Christian monastery St. Catherine stands now, it was reported today in the current issue of “Bamachneh” weekly publication of the Israel Army.
The flag was hoisted by four Israel soldiers who traveled through the desert in a jeep until they arrived at an oasis surrounding the high mountain where the ancient monastery stands in the shadow of gigantic cliffs 6,700 feet above the sea level. After dangerous ascent, the soldiers found the entry to the monastery and were met by 12 Greek Orthodox monks who greeted them “in the name of Moshe Rabene and in the name of St. Catherine.”
The soldiers were shown around the place and asked to sign their names in the visitors book. They were later offered a light supper during which the Israeli commander addressed the monks in Hebrew promising them full protection. The next morning at dawn the Israelis were led by a monk to the place where the bush allegedly burned. They descended later through 3,000 stairs hewn in solid granite rock, after hoisting the Israel flay on a tail but heavy pole for the first time in history.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
