Comment by anigbrowl
I think you are mistaking your emotional reflexes for objective truth. Weapons on flags historically connote a message of 'don't mess with us'. The IDF's logo is a sword and an olive branch, and is more or less the same as the logo of the Haganah...a pre-independence paramilitary organization that was considered terroristic at the time when Palestine was still a British possession, and which killed hundreds of people.
The issue is not that weapons are shown. The issue is that it’s a fist holding an assault rifle. It’s very plainly a call for violent action. And frankly I think it’s kind of stupid to argue otherwise.
Regardless of your opinion of the IDF, their flag is clearly a very different vibe