US EditionBritish Museum removes the term Palestine from certain Middle East exhibits
The British Museum removed 'Palestine' from ancient Middle East exhibits after complaints that the term was anachronistic, reflecting historical inaccuracies, the museum said.
- 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.
14 Articles
14 Articles
Pro-Israel legal group lobbies British Museum to remove word 'Palestine' from displays
U.K. Lawyers for Israel told the museum that some maps and descriptions of exhibits 'retroactively apply the term "Palestine" to periods in which no such entity existed and risk obscuring the history of Israel and the Jewish people'
British Museum to remove 'Palestine' on some exhibits due to historical inaccuracy
UK Lawyers for Israel said it raised concerns about references it characterized as historically inaccurate in sections covering the ancient Levant and Egypt. By Vered Weiss, World Israel News The British Museum is altering the language used in some of its ancient Middle East displays after agreeing to review terminology following objections from a UK-based Israeli advocacy group, according to statements from the museum and UK Lawyers for Israel …
The British Museum removes the name “Palestine” from its maps following pressure from pro-Israel groups
The British newspaper The Telegraph has reported that the British Museum in London has decided to remove the name “Palestine” from its ancient Middle East galleries, following complaints and pressure from pro-Israel organizations.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 42% of the sources lean Left, 42% of the sources lean Right
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
