1.18.2004

State-sponsored vandalism? A controversial artwork in Stockholm, Snow White and the Madness of Truth, consists of a pool of blood-hued water and a small boat floating in it, bearing the photo of Palestinian suicide bomber Hanadi Jaradat, who blew up herself and 21 others in October. Intended to "call attention to how weak people left alone can be capable of horrible things," according to Israeli-born artists Gunilla Skold Feiler and Dror Feiler, the work was vandalized by Israel's envoy to Sweden. Angered by what he perceived as anti-Semitism, Zvi Mazel disconnected cables supporting a spotlight so the lights came crashing down on the work. As Mazel was being escorted out, museum director Kristian Berg told him, "You are a diplomatic person, you should know how to behave." Berg later told a Swedish news agency, "He pulled out the plugs and threw one of the spotlights into the fountain, which caused the entire installation to short-circuit and made it totally life-threatening."

Ariel Sharon phoned Mazel to thank him for his actions, assuring that "the government stands behind him on this issue."

Read the text that accompanies Snow White and the Madness of Truth.

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