NEW YORK (1010 WINS) -- The United Nations has refused to officially declare Hamas a terror group -- unlike the US, UK, Canada, Australia, Argentina, Paraguay, and the 27-nation European Union -- and until recently it balked at the installation of an art exhibition illustrating the horror of the terror group's Oct. 7 attack, but "Negative Positive" was finally inaugurated Tuesday by Israel's ambassador to the UN, Gilad Erdan, steps away from the delegates entrance at the UN headquarters with a ceremony attended by officials from several countries.
"Negative Positive," on display until April 12, consists of more than 20 pieces, including iron sculptures by artist Orna Ben-Ami and photos by Ziv Koren of the communities in southern Israel where Hamas slaughtered, raped, tortured and kidnapped residents.
Israel ambassador to the United Nation Gilad Erdan with artist Orna Ben-Ami, at the inauguration of the "Negative Positive" art exhibition at the United Nations on April 2, 2024.Courtesy of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN
Citing ongoing objections by the UN to install the exhibition, Ben-Ami said, "The delegation has already faced many rejections to present something that tells Israel's story, but this time we convinced them using art. They agreed to display this exhibition next to the General Assembly, and I really hope it will help them understand what we went through."
Ambassador Erdan added, "The UN's leadership claimed the exhibition's topic is a politically sensitive issue under dispute. We exerted a lot of pressure, and thankfully, they understood that there was a line they didn't want to cross in terms of blocking and distorting reality."
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, at the inauguration of the "Negative Positive" art exhibition at the United Nations on April 2, 2024.Courtesy of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN
Erdan -- who, on the General Assembly floor, has donned a yellow star akin to those worn by Jews during the Holocaust to illustrate the UN's perceived bias against Israel -- said at the ceremony, "this exhibition is a beacon of truth in a sea of lies. It is a stark reminder of what truly happened on October 7th and why Israel must continue fighting until Hamas is obliterated and the hostages are back home. Every person who enters the UN, can now bear witness to Hamas' brutality and recognize the need to eradicate this evil."
Attendees at the inauguration of the "Negative Positive" art exhibition at the United Nations on April 2, 2024.Courtesy of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN
Tuesday's ceremony was attended by ambassadors and representatives from these UN members: Bulgaria, Canada, Czech Republic, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, France, Guatemala, Holy See, Honduras, Hungary, Italy, Georgia, Luxembourg, Montenegro, and Romania.
Israel's ambassador to the United Nations, Gilad Erdan, at the inauguration of the "Negative Positive" art exhibition at the United Nations on April 2, 2024, with Moshe Lavi, whose brother-in-law Omri Miran was kidnapped and remains in captivity.Courtesy of the Permanent Mission of Israel to the UN
Also in attendance at the inauguration was Moshe Levi, whose brother-in-law Omri Miran was kidnapped from Kibbutz Nir Oz and remains captive in Gaza.
Erdan didn't hold back his disdain of the UN, particularly its response to the Oct. 7 attack, saying the UN "is actively attempting to cause mass amnesia – to make the world forget the heinous crimes that Hamas committed."
He added, "Just as Holocaust denial is on the rise while survivors still walk among us, we are now seeing 'massacre denial' while the wounds of October 7th are still open."
He also slammed the desire by some UN member states for unilateral recognition of a Palestinian state.
"But beyond attempting to distort reality, today there are some at the UN that wish to 'reward' the perpetrators of these horrors," he said. "They seek to avoid any dialogue or negotiations by advancing a one-sided resolution granting the Palestinians statehood."
"Let me be clear: The Palestinian Authority is an entity that pays and supports terrorists," Erdan continued. "It has no control over the territory it claims to govern, such as Gaza. And it does not meet the required criteria for statehood."
He concluded, "supporting a unilateral Palestinian terror state will only ensure more bloodshed and many more October 7th atrocities."
Erdan also expressed Israel's "deep sorrow" over the death Monday of World Central Kitchen workers in Gaza.
"We never target civilians deliberately, let alone aid workers carrying out crucial work," he said. "This incident is being thoroughly investigated. But we all must remember: For Israel, every loss of life is a tragedy, yet for Hamas, every civilian death is a strategy."
