US EditionBritish Museum removes ‘Palestine’ from ancient Middle East displays
The British Museum replaced 'Palestine' with terms like 'Canaan' in ancient Middle East exhibits following UK Lawyers for Israel complaints, amid ongoing debates on historical accuracy.
- The British Museum said it has removed the term 'Palestine' from informational panels in its Middle East galleries after complaints from UK Lawyers for Israel and confirmed it has updated several displays while reviewing panels case-by-case.
- UK Lawyers for Israel complained that information boards covering 1500BC–1700BC used 'Palestine' anachronistically, ignoring earlier names like Canaan and historical states such as the Kingdom of Israel.
- A museum spokesperson said the decision followed feedback and audience research and that the museum uses UN terminology for modern maps while replacing 'Palestinian descent' with 'Canaanite descent' in Egypt galleries.
- Staff reaction could be tense, with the decision likely to provoke controversy and resentment among British Museum employees, after around 250 signed a petition last June and UKLFI faces a Solicitors Regulation Authority investigation.
- Historically, the label 'Palestine' has been used by sources such as Herodotus, UKLFI warned the museum's choices could breach the Equality Act 2010, and map updates will be phased over years under the museum masterplan.
38 Articles
38 Articles
British Museum under fire after removing word ‘Palestine’ from some displays
• Historian William Dalrymple criticises move, later says museum has not ‘cancelled’ the term wholesale• Legal challenges instituted against campaign by UK Lawyers for Israel LONDON: The British Museum has removed the word ‘Palestine’ from some of its gallery displays, revising maps and information panels in its ancient Middle East collections on the grounds that the term was used inaccurately and is no longer historically neutral. Reports in le…
The British Museum (British Museum) in London has dealt with the claims of a pro-Israeli group, and has removed the term Palestine from much of the samples and explanations contained in its Middle East room, which covers the period from 1700 to 1500 BC.
The British Museum removed the word “Palestinian” from some of its exposures, claiming that the term was misused incorrectly and that it is no longer neutral in a historical sense, writes The Guardian.
British Museum removes word ‘Palestine’ from ancient Middle East displays
London: The British Museum has removed references to the term “Palestine” from some displays relating to the ancient Middle East following concerns raised about its historical use, according to Anadolu Agency. The development follows representations made by the UK-based advocacy group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), which argued that references to Palestine in exhibits covering the ancient Levant and Egypt were anachronistic. The museum confirmed…
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