Northern Ireland may be thousands of kilometres from the Middle East but Palestinian and Israeli flags fly high in pro-Irish and pro-British neighbourhoods across the disputed UK region. Along with the common sight of painted wall murals and graffiti, the flags are symbols of pro-Palestinian or pro-Israel sympathy from either side of Northern Ireland's divide. The recent flare-up in violence in the Gaza Strip has seen a surge in flags of both sides being raised. Republicans have long identified with the Palestinian cause, saying they have a common opposition to an unfair occupation, while some Unionists say they support Israel because of their shared experience of being the targets of attacks on civilian areas. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES