No single individual has contributed more to preventing peace, or has more blood on their hands in the Middle East than Benjamin Netanyahu. In his almost half century in politics, Benny has prided himself for his recurring role as a roadblock to any peace plan or attempt for a Palestinian state to be realized.

In the fore front of this painting is Yigal Amir, the right wing ultra orthodox Israeli, who assassinated Prime Ministor Yitsack Rabin on November 4th 1995. Prime Minister Rabin became a symbol of peace and a target of hatred when he shook PLO leader Yasser Arafat’s hand in 1993, leading to the signing of the Oslo Accords. A monumental and unprecedented move in the Palestine Israel conflict, this was the closest we’ve come to actual peace being realized in the region. But by doing so, Rabin made himself a target to those who opposed the notion of making peace with the Palestinians, such as Shitenyahu. Benny led massive far right rallies in the weeks leading up to the ratification of the accords, stoking the flames while his supporters chanted “Death to Rabin”

I was lucky enough to witness Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai’s Yitzhak Rabin exhibit at the Queen Sofia Museum in Madrid in November 2023, where Gitai catalogued the various factors that led to the assassination of Rabin, specifically the complicit role of radicalized Rabbis and far right war hawks such as Shitenyahu played. The exhibition also highlighted the continued hatred amongst Israelis for Shitenyahu, who has faced massive corruption charges recently, and the annual protests in front of his home on the anniversary of PM Rabin’s murder. Many Israeli’s blame Shitenyahu specifically for the murder of Rabin. The same way the vast majority of humanity blames Shitenyahu for the lack of a Palestinian state and the ongoing ethnic cleansing and war.

For more on his role in the assassination of Rabin, and the many other ways he has actively subverted any attempts at peace with Palestine, please see the dedicated story highlights entitled "Shitenyahu" on my Instagram profile page, as well as the PBS documentary “Shattered Dreams of Peace”, which focuses on Shitenyahu’s rise to power and dedication to ensuring that Palestinians are wiped off the face of the Earth.

Gitai’s film “The Last Days of Rabin” also brilliantly provides insight and perspective to various Israeli vantage points in the lead up to the day peace for Palestinians was murdered in Israel.

Acrylic on Canvas 14" x 18"