What a Palestinian university’s Sbarro exhibit revealed about Second Intifada extremism - analysis
The fact that it was normal at a major Palestinian university to celebrate blowing up a pizzeria full of civilians is emblematic of the foundations of extremism that led to October 7.
In 2001, Al-Najah University in Nablus hosted an unsettling exhibition to commemorate a suicide bombing in Jerusalem that had claimed the lives of 16 people. The bombing took place on August 9, 2001. Following the incident, the university proceeded to create an exhibition that displayed how such atrocities were celebrated by prominent Palestinian institutions.
The memory of this disturbing exhibit has gained renewed attention through a social media account on X/Twitter, which posts news from 25 years ago as if it is happening in real time. The account, "2001 Live (@25YearsAgoLive)," has amassed a significant following due to its real-time documentation of events leading up to and following the September 11 attacks in the US.
The exhibit showcased the bombing with props of mutilated body parts, intending to highlight the perceived success of Palestinian resistance against Israel. Visitors were required to walk over American and Israeli flags upon entering and exiting the exhibition. The display aimed to illustrate the perceived justifications for the attack, including the suffering of Palestinian victims of the Second Intifada.
Written by urgent.news from Jerusalem Post's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
