Here’s a disturbing story of open sympathy for terrorist mass murderers in Australia, disguised as art. And notice how theage.com does their best to delegitimize the outrage, with a headline that implies only Jews could be “offended” by this sick display: Jewish group blasts ‘offensive’ artwork. (Hat tip: David.)

Public art in Melbourne’s CBD depicting dead militant Palestinian leaders has sparked an outcry from the nation’s peak Jewish group.

The Australian and Jewish Affairs Council has branded the artwork, which features the faces of two former Hamas leaders, offensive.

The privately funded exhibition, on the exterior of an office building off a busy Melbourne laneway, depicts the faces of four Palestinians killed by Israelis.

Two of the faces belong to former Hamas leaders, Sheikh Ahmad Yassin and Abdul Aziz Rantisi, both of whom were killed by Israelis. [After long careers of terrorism, mass murder, and child abuse. —ed.]

“I think that it is appropriately located at the end of an alley right next to the garbage cans,” Australian and Jewish Affairs Council senior policy analyst Ted Lapkin said.

“It’s obviously a political statement, I can only surmise by someone who supports Hamas and Hamas is a terrorist organisation with the blood of hundreds of Israeli civilians on its hands.”

Mr Lapkin likened the exhibition, which is part of the City Lights project, to artwork depicting the Bali bomber, Amrozi.

“Amrozi comes from an organisation that specialises in the deliberate killing of Australian citizens. What’s the difference?” he said.

But exhibition curator and director Andrew Mac said the artist was trying to bring attention to what could be called state sponsored assassination or terrorism.

He defended the exhibition, saying it was important the public had access to a wide range of views.

“I think that it is important we receive a diverse range of opinions and cultural comment from a wide variety of people,” he said.

UPDATE at 12/11/04 6:36:58 pm:

You can see pictures of this disgusting “artwork” at Silent Running.