The United Nations says it has removed controversial quilt panel artwork that called for the annihilation of Israel.
The inflammatory painting on the panel depicted a map of Israel resembling a watermelon, without the West Bank or Gaza Strip. In the upper right corner was the Palestinian flag.
The left side of the map contains the phrase “From the rivers to the sea,” while the right side contains the phrase “Become free,” in an obvious nod to the phrase “From the rivers to the sea, Palestine will be free.” I did. . ”
A UN quilt panel was removed due to a controversial painting. (Fox News Digital)
The phrase has become a rallying cry for Palestinians around the world protesting against Israel amid the ongoing Gaza conflict that began with the Hamas massacre in Israel on October 7, 2023. Israelis consider this phrase a call to genocide and to wipe Israel off the map entirely.
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Fox News Digital first reported on the UN painting on Monday. The exhibit also attracted the attention of Israel's Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Danny Danon, who called the exhibit “disgraceful” and demanded that the UN remove it.
The United Nations told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that the “Peace Flag” display is a way to “repurpose fashion waste to make a positive impact.”
Exhibits exhibited at the United Nations. (Fox News Digital)
The United Nations said that during the installation, officials told organizers that some panels could not be displayed, including one with the phrase “From the River to the Sea”.
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The UN said the controversial panels were covered in the second week of October, but someone “removed their covers” early last week.
Most of the paintings show a clear call for peace. (Fox News Digital)
“Our colleagues reported on this twice last week and were planning to report on it again today after learning of it again,” a UN spokesperson told Fox News Digital. “We have alerted UN Security to review surveillance footage to determine the continued unauthorized interference with exhibits and who is responsible.”
Danone on Tuesday criticized X for the lack of UN leadership.
“Yesterday, I exposed the hypocrisy of the United Nations with an exhibition of children's drawings in which the state of Israel was erased and filled with hateful images,” Danon said. “After a firm appeal to the UN leadership, this exhibit has been amended and these anti-Semitic paintings have been removed from the walls. We stand up for the truth and condemn acts of anti-Semitism and hypocrisy. Every time I see one, I’m going to confront them head-on.”
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Fox News Digital confirmed Wednesday that the panel was originally covered with a “River to Sea” painting, but has now been completely removed.
“The issue is being addressed and we are responding to the Israeli ambassador,” the secretary-general's spokesperson told reporters on Wednesday.
