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PA art exhibit for Pope presents Palestinians as Jesus, persecuted by Jews

Headline: “The Palestinian Museum will welcome Pope Francis with visual displays that shed light on the life of our people in the shadow of the occupation”
“’Put your finger on the wound and be convinced of my existence’ (based on John 20:27: ‘Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.’ King James Bible) – this is the message with which the Palestinians will receive Pope Francis during his visit in Bethlehem on Sunday. This message will be illustrated with visual displays designed by the Palestinian Museum at the request of the Presidential Higher Committee for Church Affairs. The displays, in the shape of large signs and postcards, will be distributed throughout the Church of Nativity courtyard and the Deheisheh refugee camp throughout the week, to document the historic visit and shed light on the every-day life of the Palestinians in the shadow of the ongoing Israeli occupation.
The displays… were designed by combining famous classical Western paintings with newspaper photos from the archive of UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East). While the classical paintings were selected to represent scenes from the New Testament, which took place in Palestine in the distant past, the photographs reflect the painful reality the Palestinians have experienced and still experience under the occupation.”
Click to view bulletin containing additional pictures of doctored artwork.

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