A mural in Milwaukee’s Riverwest neighborhood, depicting a Star of David morphed into a swastika, has understandably sparked outrage for suggesting that Israel is acting like Nazis in its war against Hamas. The image is highly offensive and misleading, especially for those of us who lost family members in the Holocaust. However, vandalizing the mural is only making the problem worse.
As a graduate of Marquette University with deep roots in Milwaukee, I understand the sensitivities surrounding controversial expressions in our city.
The Streisand Effect shows that efforts to silence or suppress something — whether an idea, statement, or work of art — often have the unintended consequence of amplifying its visibility. That’s exactly what’s happening with this mural. Instead of fading into obscurity, the mural gains more attention with each act of vandalism. Every time someone defaces it, media coverage increases, further strengthening the message critics want to dismantle. What started as a divisive piece of street art now dominates conversations across Milwaukee and beyond.
Combining a swastika and the Star of David is an offensive misrepresentation
As someone who supports Israel’s right to exist and finds this false analogy offensive, I understand the impulse to act against it. The image, combining a swastika with the Star of David, is an offensive and entirely false comparison. But by vandalizing it, people only give the artist more opportunities to justify his message and create further division.
Leaving the mural intact may actually help the pro-Israel cause. The Milwaukee Common Council universally condemned the imagery, including Alderman Lamont Westmoreland, who, while expressing sympathy to the Palestinian cause, called the mural divisive and offensive. The analogy between Israel and Nazi Germany is demonstrably absurd, and the more people engage with the mural’s misrepresentation, the clearer its flaws become. This is why even those sympathetic to the Palestinian cause should cringe at this misrepresentation.
Nazi Germany orchestrated the systematic genocide of 6 million Jews, driven by an ideology of blind hatred. In contrast, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, though tragic, revolves around territorial and national disputes. Comparing these two situations severely distorts history.
Israel has consistently sought peace with its neighbors, including Palestine
Israel operates as a state with a strong commitment to human rights. About 20% of its population consists of Arab-Israelis, who enjoy full citizenship rights, including the right to vote, run for office, and even serve on Israel’s Supreme Court. Arab-Israelis actively participate in all aspects of Israeli society, from politics to business. This reality stands in stark contrast to the brutal oppression and dehumanization Jews faced under Nazi rule.
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Moreover, Israel has consistently sought peace with its neighbors, as evidenced by peace treaties with Egypt and Jordan and numerous attempts to negotiate with the Palestinians. Despite ongoing hostilities from groups like Hamas, which call for Israel’s destruction, Israel has repeatedly pursued diplomacy and coexistence. Comparing Israel’s defensive actions to the genocidal policies of Nazi Germany not only distorts the facts but also trivializes the Holocaust and the challenges Israel faces.
By trying to tear down this offensive mural, we only give its message more power. Instead, allowing it to stand invites people to scrutinize and debunk its false claims. Let the truth, rather than acts of vandalism, expose the inaccuracies and shift the narrative. Only then can we engage in meaningful dialogue, where facts, not misrepresentations, prevail.
Eli Federman has written for USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, Daily News, Reuters, and others on religion, law, and the Middle East. X: @elifederman
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