Pollies protest cancellation of UNESCO Israel exhibition

FEDERAL politicians have joined B’nai B’rith Anti-Defamation Commission (ADC) head Dvir Abramovich in condemning the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) for cancelling an exhibition about Jewish ties to the Land of Israel at the last minute.

Two years in the making, People, Book, Land – The 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People to the Holy Land was to open last Monday at UNESCO’s Paris headquarters.

But following a letter on January 14 from United Arab Emirates UNESCO delegate Abdullah Al Nuaimi, expressing concern the exhibit “could create potential obstacles related to the peace process”, it was abruptly cancelled.

Abramovich said the ADC “deplored this disturbing and shameful decision by UNESCO”.

“Jewish history and the connection of the Jewish people to the Land of Israel is not a plaything, and should not be subjected to censorship, denial or political coercion,” he said.

Kooyong MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister, Josh Frydenberg, said: “On the face of it, UNESCO’s actions look offensive and create a dangerous precedent.”

His parliamentary colleague, Mitchell MP Alex Hawke said complaints from “a collection of anti-Israel countries” should not be a reason to cancel a perfectly valid exhibition of culture and history.

“For UNESCO to attempt to make history ‘acceptable to everyone concerned from a historical viewpoint’ appears to be a non-achievable goal, and if followed would mean there would be no exhibition of anyone’s culture or history at any time,” he said.

Isaacs MP and former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said “history should not be a plaything of politics”.

“The fact is that the exhibition contents have already been thoroughly vetted by UNESCO. There is no excuse for delaying the exhibition due to pressure from nations that want to deny historical facts,” he said.

Melbourne Ports MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Opposition Leader, Michael Danby, said UNESCO’s claim that “an exhibition showcasing Jewish history could in some way damage peace talks is ludicrous”.

In a cabinet meeting last Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that silencing the truth about the Jewish connection to Israel is not required to advance peace. “The explanation given was that it [the exhibition] would harm the negotiations,” he said. “It would not harm the negotiations. Negotiations are based on facts, on the truth, which is never harmful.”

Following pressure from the US, Israel and Canada, UNESCO announced on Tuesday that it hopes to hold the exhibition in June. However, the Simon Wiesenthal Centre said in light of recent events, it wouldn’t consider the matter resolved until a firm date had been set.

GARETH NARUNSKY

Dvir Abramovich