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Knesset Guard Flag (Israel)

image by Shay Shemesh and Oded Deutch, 10 May 2017

Current version
Previous version
Variant?

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Current version

The flag features a (modified) version of the CoA in the middle of a white horizontal flag.
The Knesset Guard (משמר הכנסת) was established in 1958 during the Third Knesset (source) and it is an Israeli protective security unit. The decision to establish the Knesset Guard in its current format was adopted in accordance with the Knesset Immunity Law, 5712-1952, on February 24, 1958, in the Knesset Subcommittee on the Knesset Budget. Up to 1958, the Knesset Guard was a Company of the Tel Aviv Police. (source)
For additional information go to the following official websites: 1, 2, and 3
Esteban Rivera, 10 May 2017

Previous version

image by Miles Li and Željko Heimer, 21 January 2006

At the Israeli National Photo Collection there are a photos of The Knesset Guard flag:
(– Photo 5658: "THE KNESSET GUARD, IN FRONT OF THE MAIN ENTRANCE TO THE NEW KNESSET BUILDING IN JERUSALEM.".
– Photo 72710: "GERMAN PRESIDENT JOHANESS RAU'S VISIT TO ISRAEL. IN THE PHOTO, PRES. RAU (R) & KNESSET SPEAKER AVRAHAM BURG REVIEWING THE KNESSET GUARD.".
The Knesset Guard flag can be described as: "quarterly white and crimson, at the upper fly a golden castle, and at the lower hoist a golden menorah."
The castle has one gateway, plus three windows (one at the central tower and one at each 'wing'). The central tower has four embattlements, and each 'wing' has three embattlements.
Miles Li, 13 March 2005

Mishmar HaKnesset is an independent force (i.e not part of the police or the army) with its own uniforms, ranks and so on, which is in charge of the security of the Knesstet. It is oparated under special act (Knesset Guard Act) with no word about flag.
Dov Gutterman, 14 March 2005

It sounds like a description of how the menorah was depicted in classical times (about 2000 years ago). Perhaps coincidentally, there's a famous sculpture of a menorah outside of the Knesset, and it is something of a symbol of the institution.
Nathan Lamm, 14 March 2005

Variant?

image by Jens Pattke

Did the Knesset Guard colour change? Wikipedia shows a photo of the visit of the German president, Horst Köhler on February 2, 2005. Here the red field (with a castle) of the Knesset Guard colours is in the upper corner at the mast. Above is a photo of the visit of the German president, Horst Rau with the red field (with a menorah) of the Knesset Guard colours is in the lower corner at the mast.
I had manufactured a manual sketch on the basis a tv-report in the news "Tagesschau" (German TV) on 2 February 2005. The castle was red and drawn in yellow outlines. The structure of the brick-work was also drawn in yellow. Only the portal was occupied with laminar yellow.
Jens Pattke, 9 September 2007