On March 16, 2008 ( 9 Adar 5768), the largest national flag in the world will be raised in Eilat to mark its liberation.

The raising of the huge flag in Eilat to mark Israel's 60^th anniversary symbolizes Israel's victory in the War of Independence and the liberation of the southern town by IDF soldiers.

Eilat was liberated by soldiers of the  Negev Brigade on March 10, 1949 in Operation Ovda. At the time, the town of Umm Rashrash (Eilat) was controlled by soldiers from the Jordanian Arab Legion. The aim of the campaign was to conquer the Negev before the signing of the Armistice Agreements with Jordan. Soldiers of the Negev Brigade, supported by the Golani Brigade, were successful in the mission. Following the taking of the town's police station, the soldiers raised an ink flag, which became a symbol of the victory.

The improvised flag was made on the order of the then Negev Brigade commander, Nahum Sarig, who discovered that the Brigade did not have an Israeli flag in its possession. The soldiers found a white sheet, drew two ink stripes, and sewed between them a Star of David torn off from a first-aid kit. The raising of the ink flag marked the climax of Operation Ovda, the last operation of the War of Independence.