U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden has ruled that seizing and destroying an Israeli flag can amount to racial discrimination against Jews. In an opinion made public on Friday, the judge said that forcibly removing a flag displaying the Star of David from a Jewish individual and damaging it constitutes direct evidence of discriminatory intent. The decision does not create a blanket ban on flag burning but establishes that such conduct, when aimed at the Israeli flag because of its Jewish symbolism, may violate federal civil-rights protections. Legal analysts said the ruling clarifies that actions targeting Jewish identity can be subject to heightened scrutiny under anti-discrimination laws.