The United Nations has taken down a controversial quilt panel that displayed artwork calling for Israel’s destruction.
The artwork, which sparked outrage, depicted a map of Israel resembling a watermelon and omitted boundaries for the West Bank and Gaza. In the upper right corner, the Palestinian flag was prominently featured. On the left side of the map, the phrase “From the River to the Sea” appeared, while on the right side, “Will be Free” was written, echoing the well-known slogan, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free.”
This phrase has become a rallying cry among Palestinians globally, especially amid the current Gaza conflict following the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack in Israel. Many Israelis perceive the slogan as a call for genocide and the complete erasure of Israel from the map.
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The artwork also attracted the attention of Danny Danon, Israel’s permanent representative to the U.N., who condemned the display as a “disgrace” and insisted that it be removed.
The U.N. later explained that the “Peace Flags” exhibit was intended as a way to “re-purpose fashion waste for positive impact.”
A U.N. staff member reportedly informed the organizer upon installation that specific panels, including the one with “From the River to the Sea,” could not be displayed. However, despite these instructions, the artwork was unveiled and left uncovered.
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The U.N. initially covered the panel in mid-October, but recently, someone allegedly removed the covering.
“Our colleagues covered it twice last week and were planning to do the same today upon learning that it was uncovered again,” a U.N. spokesperson stated.
“We have alerted UN Security to the continued unauthorized interference in the exhibit and to review security footage to find out who is responsible.”
On social media, Danon criticized the U.N. for what he perceived as a lack of leadership. “Yesterday, I exposed the hypocrisy of the U.N. through an exhibition featuring children’s drawings where the State of Israel was erased and filled with hateful imagery,” Danon said. “Yesterday, I exposed the hypocrisy of the U.N. through an exhibition featuring children’s drawings where the State of Israel was erased and filled with hateful imagery,” Danon said. “After firmly addressing the U.N. leadership this exhibition was fixed, and these antisemitic drawings were removed from the walls. We will stand up for truth and each time we witness acts of antisemitism and hypocrisy, we will confront them head-on.”
As of Wednesday, following initial attempts to cover the panel, the U.N. confirmed that the “From the River to the Sea” panel has now been permanently removed from the exhibit.
A spokesperson for the Secretary-General told reporters, “It is being dealt with, and we’re answering the Israeli ambassador.”
