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The United Nations says it has removed a controversial quilt panel artwork that called for the extermination of Israel. 

The incendiary painting on the panel featured a map of Israel, resembling a watermelon, without the West Bank or Gaza partition. In the top right-hand corner was the Palestinian flag. 

The left side of the map contained the phrase “From the River to the Sea” and the right side contained the phrase, “Will be Free” in an obvious nod to the phrase, “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Will be Free.”

The phrase has become a rallying cry for Palestinians around the world protesting Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, sparked by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, massacre in Israel. Israelis regard the phrase as a call to genocide, and for Israel to be wiped off the map entirely. 

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Fox News Digital was the first to report on the U.N. painting on Monday. It also drew the attention of Danny Danon, Israel’s permanent representative to the U.N., who called the display a “disgrace” and demanded the U.N. remove it. 

The U.N. told Fox News Digital on Wednesday that the “Peace Flags” exhibit was a way to “re-purpose fashion waste for positive impact.” 

An exhibit displayed at the United Nations.  (Fox News Digital)

The U.N. said a staffer informed the organizer upon installation that several panels — including the one with the phrase “From the River to the Sea” — could not be displayed.

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The U.N. said the controversial panels were covered in the second week of October, but someone “removed those covers” earlier last week.

Most of the drawings show an explicit call for peace.  (Fox News Digital)

“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 told Fox News Digital. “We have alerted UN Security to the continued unauthorized interference in the exhibit and to review security footage to find out who is responsible.” 

Danon took to X on Tuesday, criticizing the U.N. for what he deemed to be its 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. “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.” 

Fox News Digital confirmed Wednesday that after initially covering the panel with the “From the River to the Sea” drawing, the panel has now been removed entirely. 

A spokesperson for the Secretary General told reporters Wednesday: “It is being dealt with, and we’re answering the Israeli ambassador.” 

If Donald Trump follow through with his promise on tariffs during the electoral campaign, EU economic growth could be seriously undermined.

The president-elect repeatedly stated his intention to impose a 10% tariff on European products.

One of the worst hit sectors would be the automotive industry, in particular that of Germany.

The Association of the German Automotive Industry (VDA) says everything must be done to ensure that new US tariffs are not imposed. The association’s spokesperson, Simon Schuetz, told Euronews:

“I think that both sides need to talk to prevent this. If it does, we both know what will happen next. And the European Union will probably have some measures in response, and that would be the start of another trade conflict or something of that kind. And that’s not what we need. Europe and the US need to understand that, looking at all the geopolitical challenges, we need to work together, and that politics and economics needs to be considered together.”

The situation for the automotive industry in Germany is already difficult, with Volkswagen recently announcing the closure of three plants. A recent study found that 186,000 jobs could be lost over the next decade, as the industry switches to EV production.

The unsolved issue of steel and aluminium

The other most affected sector would be the steel industry. The US and Europe still have not fully resolved the issue of tariffs imposed by the previous Trump administration – which have already caused a noticeable slump in exports.

According to the European Steel Association (EUROFER), further lengthy and complex negotiations lie ahead.

Axel Egger, its Director General, told Euronews:

“A way forward had been agreed upon between Joe Biden and the European Commission under Ursula von der Leyen to address the trade conflict concerning steel, as well as a global arrangement on sustainable steel and aluminum. The negotiations have stalled since the election campaigns in the US began, however. Our hope is that negotiations can continue after the elections in order to find a solution, because otherwise we will fall back into an era of tough 25% tariffs on European steel”.

The Association also underlines the need for the new US president to be persuaded with regards to climate goals, not least with regards to his country’s own industry, as steel and aluminium manufacturing are one of the biggest carbon-emitters.