Pro-Gaza Art Project Upsets Jewish Atlanta

Everyone is entitled to their opinion … right?

A recent student art exhibition, featuring artwork by Atlanta International School students, has sent shock waves through Jewish Atlanta as one of the pieces featured pro-Gaza “occupational” themes and Nazi imagery,

The art in question, displayed in an off-campus exhibition, depicted a montage of war scenes featuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump performing a Nazi salute, overseeing exploding bombs, Palestinian civilians fleeing in terror, and soldiers marching into battle.

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Beneath the controversial art piece, a description read:

“This piece is speaking out on the current genocide in Palestine. This piece intends to highlight the brutality of the Israeli occupation of Palestine by likening the current president, Benjamin Netanyahu, and the US president, Donald Trump, to Nazis. Most western audiences do not know how Palestinians were killed and forcibly removed from their homes to make way for the creation of Israel. While the idea of a nation where a historically marginalized community can be safe from harm is amazing on paper, one can’t hope to achieve that by marginalizing another community in the process.”

For the record, Netanyahu is not the “president” of Israel – he is the prime minister. And Palestinians were not forcibly removed from their “homeland.” Judea and Samaria have been home to the Jewish people for thousands of years.

The artwork created a stir among the Atlanta International School parent community, leading AIS principal Kevin Glass to issue a statement:
“As you may recall, last year the AIS Board of Trustees published a new policy designed to strengthen the school’s mission and core values – particularly during moments of global unrest. This policy reinforces our commitment to helping students develop their own understanding and perspective about global events, in a manner that is age-appropriate and that respects and deepens their understanding of others.

“I am writing to you because I have been made aware that student artwork which is not in keeping with this policy, or the school’s core values of mutual respect and understanding, was being shown at an off-campus display. I apologize on behalf of the school for allowing this to happen. The piece has been removed and an investigation, following our internal procedures, is now actively underway.

“It is essential to who we are as a school that we adhere to our policies and uphold our core values at all times. That is why I am treating the matter with the utmost seriousness and writing to update you as valued members of our community.”