Cultural Figures Urge British Museum to Support Palestinians

(MENAFN) Over 200 prominent figures from the cultural sector urged the British Museum on Tuesday to demonstrate solidarity with Palestinians, following reports that references to Palestine might be removed from several museum galleries.

In an open letter addressed to the trustees of the British Museum, the signatories declared: "Genocide extends to the cultural and historical erasure of a people."

The initiative, organized by the advocacy group Culture Unstained, counted notable supporters including actors Maxine Peake and Juliet Stevenson, musician Brian Eno, and architects Jeremy Till and Sarah Wigglesworth. Additional backing came from Jewish Artists for Palestine, Archaeologists Against Apartheid, and Artists & Culture Workers London.

This statement arose after the British Museum sought to counter claims that it had eliminated the term Palestine from some exhibit labels following correspondence from UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI). The museum, however, acknowledged "amending" two display panels and is reviewing its references to Palestine as a historical term in other galleries.

Last month, the institution denied allegations that the word Palestine had been removed under pressure from a pro-Israeli legal organization, asserting that it continues to reference Palestine in multiple galleries.

The letter criticized the museum for perceived complicity in actions against Palestinians in Gaza, citing examples such as "hosting the Israeli Embassy for a private party last year to defending its partnership with BP, an oil company directly profiting from that violent oppression."

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