The British Museum has postponed a lecture on ancient Israel, which was scheduled as part of the UK's inaugural Jewish Culture Month, citing security concerns. The event, originally set for 28 May, was to feature Dr Paul Collins delivering a talk on objects illustrating the political and cultural forces that shaped the region over 2,000 years ago.
Decision Amidst Tensions
The museum stated that a 'significant proportion' of registered attendees intended to deliberately disrupt the event, preventing others from participating. This decision comes amidst ongoing tensions over Israel's actions in the Middle East and regular pro-Palestine marches in London.
Reactions to the Postponement
George Osborne, chairman of the British Museum, shared the museum's statement regarding the postponement. However, BBC historian Simon Schama criticised the move as 'absolutely the wrong decision'. The museum emphasised that the safety of staff and visitors was paramount in making this decision.
The lecture was part of Jewish Culture Month, which aims to celebrate Jewish heritage and culture. The museum has not yet announced a rescheduled date for the talk.
