It is the kind of scene the media loves – a real ‘David vs Goliath’ set-up.
In fact, that is what the Daily Mail has explicitly called it (while call the little rock-thrower a ‘protester’ for good measure).
But what I see is outright child abuse – the cynical exploitation of a child, potentially placed in harm’s way, to garner world sympathy.
And in what I am sure is no coincidence, this photo was taken in the village of Bilin, the scene of similar exploitation photos featuring Shirley Temper and friends.