Outrage over the United Nations’ Palestinian exhibition has spread after using a murdered Israeli child’s image in order to portray a Palestinian civilian casualty.
The UN’s exhibit featured an artwork that prominently displayed a photograph of 13-year-old Israeli girl, Hallel Yaffa Ariel, who was killed by a Palestinian during an attempted stabbing in her sleep in 2016. Her parents are in shock after seeing their daughter’s image, which was cropped to truncate the caption “Israeli victim” and placed alongside similar images of other allegedly Palestinian civilian victims of conflict in the Middle East.
This incident has triggered condemnation from a wide variety of organizations and leaders, many of which have called for a full retraction and apology from the UN. Indeed, this incident has only served to deepen the divide between Israelis and Palestinians and heighten the hostility of diplomatic relations already existing.
Hallel Yaffa Ariel’s parents, Rina and Amichai, were appalled to see the UN’s use of their daughter’s image in the context of a politically charged exhibition. Amichai has expressed the family’s pain through a heartbreaking statement: “How could a body that unites the world be so shameless? Does the world not understand that they are taking away our souls?”
International organizations such as the World Jewish Congress and the Anti-Defamation League have spoken out against the UN’s controversial exhibition. These groups have argued that hijacking Hallel Yaffa Ariel’s tragedy in this context is an affront to the fundamental values and ethics of humanity and should not be tolerated.
The controversy surrounding the exhibition has further highlighted the need for a comprehensive solution to the conflict between Israel and Palestine. Through dialogue and negotiation, it is possible to find a way to create a vibrant and peaceful environment for all parties. Until then, the UN must strive to ensure that such an incident never occurs in the future.