Protests over West Bank rainbow flag

Ramallah - Palestinian protesters have whitewashed a rainbow flag of gay rights, painted by a Palestinian artist on six slabs of the West Bank separation barrier.

Khaled Jarrar said on Tuesday his art was meant as a reminder that Palestinians live under Israeli occupation, at a time when gay rights are in the news after the US allowed same-sex weddings.

But protesters perceived it as support for homosexuality, a taboo subject in Palestinian society.

The painting ignited angry social media responses among Palestinians and activists whitewashed the flag on Monday.

The flag was painted on the best known section of Israel's graffiti-covered barrier, next to a portrait of Yasser Arafat.

Mohammed, who only gave his first name for fear of repercussions, says he helped whitewash the flag because "we cannot promote gay rights".