An Israeli flag that was part of an artistic installation displaying the flags of 195 countries in the heart of Paris was removed after being vandalized during the night of Monday, September 14. The incident has sparked concern and disappointment from the Israeli embassy in France, which called the removal a "particularly serious decision." The installation, part of the Paris Design Week, was displayed on Place de la Bastille until Sunday and aimed to promote unity and highlight the use of recycled clothing in flag-making. The installation was created by designers Jean-Sébastien Blanc and Claire Renard, who explained that the Israeli flag—mounted on a bamboo pole like the others—was sprayed with red paint during the night of Monday to Tuesday. The artists, along with the City of Paris and the National Monuments Center, decided the next day to remove the flag. Blanc stated they did not want to leave a flag that "seemed stained with blood" because it was not their choice. A poster attached to the pole mentioned the incident as an "act of vandalism" and noted that the flag "cannot be replaced" until the end of the installation on Sunday. The Israeli embassy expressed disappointment, stating that the removal of the single Israeli flag "raises serious questions about the particular hostility that this flag faces from the city of Paris and the organizers." In a statement, the embassy called for "all the light to be shed on the circumstances of this degradation" and emphasized that such actions are "hardly compatible with the values of peace, unity, and dialogue" promoted by the installation. Blanc explained that the Israeli flag, like the others, was a "unique work" created over four hours and could not be replaced without altering the artistic concept of the installation, which focused on the reuse of clothing. The artists also feared further damage if a new flag were installed. Blanc added that "Israel catalyzes a lot of hatred," but noted that other flags in the installation, such as those of Russia, North Korea, and China, also face similar scrutiny. He emphasized that the installation aimed to represent all nations, but that does not imply endorsement of their governments.