Israel on "high alert" ahead of Celtic match

Israel is on high alert ahead of a match between Celtic and local team Hapoel Be'er Sheva, after fans of the Scottish champion waved Palestinian flags at their last game.

Hundreds of police forces will be deployed in and around the Hapoel's stadium in Be'er Sheva to "ensure that it is a sport event and not a political event," spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said.

Police will remove flags if necessary, he added.

Around 250 Celtic fans are expected to attend the game, which will decide which team goes through to the next stage of the UEFA Champions League.

Last week, hundreds of Scottish football fans waved Palestinian flags during the match between Celtic and Hapoel Be'er Sheva, defying a ban by the UEFA.

The UEFA rule forbids the use of "gestures, words, objects or any other means to transmit any message that is not fit for a sports event, particularly messages that are of a political, ideological, religious, offensive or provocative nature."

As a result, the club faced disciplinary action over displays of the Palestinian flag.

Celtic fans raised $59,000 for Palestinian charities after anticipating a fine from UEFA.

In 2014, UEFA fined the club after fans waved Palestinian flags during a match against Iceland's KR Reykjavik.

The club was fined about $20,900 over the incident.