The British Museum has responded to a report by the Telegraph regarding claims that it removed the term "Palestinian" from some of its wall texts due to pressure from a pro-Israel organization. The museum clarified that it has not entirely eliminated the term from its displays.
The Telegraph article indicated that UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) had contacted museum director Nicholas Cullinan, asserting that the use of "Palestine" in its exhibitions misrepresents historical contexts and continuity. They argued that this could mislead viewers about the origins of the Israelites and Jewish people.
While the specific texts that were altered remain unspecified, the report suggested that references to "Palestinian descent" were modified to "Canaanite descent" in a display concerning the Hyksos, an ancient Levantine group.
A spokesperson for the British Museum stated that the term "Canaan" is significant for the southern Levant during the later second millennium BC. They emphasized that the museum still employs the UN's terminology, using "Palestinian" as a cultural identifier when appropriate. The spokesperson noted that the UKLFI's correspondence followed the changes made.
Despite not issuing a formal statement since the report, museum leadership has reportedly continued to contest the Telegraph article, which they believe contained inaccuracies.
According to the National, Cullinan reached out to Husam Zomlot, the Palestinian ambassador to the UK, who accepted the museum's clarification. The Palestinian embassy expressed concern that labeling the term "Palestine" as contentious could contribute to a broader narrative that undermines Palestinian existence.
Art historian William Dalrymple also mentioned on social media that he spoke with Cullinan, who confirmed that the language in two panels about the Levant had changed last year but denied any connection to the UKLFI letter.
Cullinan expressed frustration, stating he was unaware of the situation until recently and had not seen the UKLFI letter prior to that point, indicating his discontent with the circumstances surrounding the issue.