“Outrageous: Murdered Israeli Child Used as Exemplar of Palestinian Civilian Casualties in UN Exhibit

The United Nations recently sparked outrage after featuring a controversial photo exhibit at its office in Jerusalem. The exhibit, which was put together by Palestinian activists, featured the photograph of 16 year old Israeli girl Hallel Yaffa Ariel, who was brutally murdered while asleep in her own bedroom, as a symbol of Palestinian civilian casualties. The exhibition has sparked a huge backlash, with many Israeli politicians and advocates for victims of terrorism across the world, for a variety of reasons. They are accusing the UN of utilizing a “victim-area switch” to spin a false narrative, and disregarding the real story of how the victim was a Jewish civilian and the murderer was a Palestinian terrorist. Many Palestinians reject this criticism, though, claiming that the exhibition was meant to highlight the “excessive use of force” displayed by the Israeli army in the occupied territories. While they condemned the murder of Hallel Yaffa Ariel, they also argued that her photograph does not represent the entire population of Palestine, but instead the disproportionate number of civilian casualties in the region. The Israeli government, however, has been unwavering in their criticism of the exhibit. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it a “shameful and scandalous act.” Deputy Minister of Defense Eli Ben-Dahan argued that it was disrespectful to the victims of terrorism, as well as to the collective memory of Israelis. He argued that the exhibit was “aimed at inciting hatred and enmity towards Israel and her citizens.” The controversy over the exhibition highlights a larger problem within international forums, such as the UN, where political issues and agendas can clash and override justice and truth. While both sides are guilty of this, it’s especially concerning when an international body like the UN appears to be getting involved in one-sided disputes and propaganda. The case involving Hallel Yaffa Ariel and the UN Palestinian exhibit is one example of how international forums can be manipulated and exploited to push a certain agenda. In this case, it appears as if the Palestinian activists have gone out of their way to use the photo of a murdered Israeli child to gain sympathy and support for their cause. This is not only disrespectful to Israeli victims, their families, and their nation, but it also leads to a complete distortion of the narrative and of the facts at hand. It is urgent that the UN and other international bodies evaluate their policies towards such issues and take the necessary steps to ensure that their proceedings are fair, truthful, and in line with universal values of justice.