A large table covered with food and bottles of champagne, with Benjamin Netanyahu in the center: an artist installed a work inspired by The Last Supper in Tel Aviv on Wednesday , when the Israeli Prime Minister is facing a wave of protest.
"The Last Supper" by Leonardo da Vinci. Electa / Leemage
On Yitzhak Rabin Square, the epicenter in Tel Aviv of the demonstrations against Benjamin Netanyahu, accused of corruption and mismanagement of the Covid-19 pandemic, the staging is inspired by Leonardo da Vinci's painting representing the last meal of Jesus Christ before he died crucified.
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The work here symbolizes " the last meal of Israeli democracy, " its designer, Itay Zalait, told reporters. " Netanyahu is the one who gives himself a feast when the State of Israel reaches the million unemployed who are hungry for bread, " added the artist, who placed candles around the prime minister's life-size doll, cigars, macaroons and other delicacies.
Violent clashes
In recent weeks, rallies have multiplied to denounce government corruption and demand the resignation of Benyamin Netanyahu, indicted for corruption, fraud and breach of trust in three cases.
Protesters also denounce its handling of the novel coronavirus pandemic, as the country suffers a second wave of contaminations and the unemployment rate has exceeded 20% in recent months against 3.4% in February. Rallies sometimes escalate into violent clashes, and police say they have opened an investigation after anti-Netanyahu protesters were beaten Tuesday by unidentified individuals in Tel Aviv.
The prime minister called on the police to arrest the culprits but also found threats against him and his family to be unacceptable as well.
" There is no place for incitement to hatred and threats of murder, explicit or implicit, against me and my family, like the shameful threat of crucifixion today in Tel Aviv " , he wrote on Twitter, appearing to refer to Itay Zalait's work.