British Museum 'shamefully' cancel Jewish culture talk after discovering protesters' plot to disrupt event

The British Museum has postponed a talk on ancient Israel after learning a "significant number of protesters" were planning to disrupt the event at the 273-year-old institution.

The event - part of the museum's Jewish Culture Month series - was set to take place around 1pm today, but has now been moved to an unspecified future date.

Dr Paul Collins, Keeper of the Department of the Middle East, was scheduled to give the talk, titled: "Ancient Israel and Judah in the British Museum".

The world-renowned public institution released a statement confirming the news.

It read: "In recent days, we were informed that a significant proportion of registered attendees were individuals intending to deliberately disrupt the event, preventing others from participating in good faith and undermining the purpose of the programme.

"The British Museum fully recognises the importance of lawful protest and freedom of expression in a democratic society.

"Equally, we have a responsibility to ensure that events hosted within the Museum can proceed safely, securely and without intimidation for speakers, staff and visitors alike.

"Following discussions with organisers and security partners, a joint decision was taken to postpone the event to a later date when it can take place in an environment that properly safeguards both the audience experience and the integrity of the programme itself.

The statement added: "This decision was made to protect the event, not to diminish it.

"We will continue to support Jewish Culture Month and remain committed to providing a space where history, culture and scholarship can be explored openly, respectfully and without disruption."

The British Museum also updated the page on the event, with a header reading: "Please note this event has been postponed. We apologise for any inconvenience."

The event was intended to show how "the histories of the kingdoms of Israel and Judah can be illuminated by the archaeology and art of the wider ancient Middle East."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

• British museum gives away 2,000 historic manuscripts to indigenous community
• Woke museum willingly gives up exhibits which were 'saved by being brought to Britain'
• British Museum loses top spot as Britain's most popular attraction just months after Union Jack row and sending treasures abroad in woke attempt to 'decolonise'

The event also intended to "shed light on the political, cultural and imperial forces that shaped the region between approximately 900 and 50 BC" by showing artefacts preserved in the British Museum.

Jewish Culture Month - a project launched by the Board of Deputies of British Jews - is celebrated from May 16 to June 16 with the intention of celebrating "the best of Jewish culture in the UK, past and present".

In addition to the British Museum, the Tate Britain, Tate Modern, the National Portrait Gallery, V&A, Museum of the Home and the Science Museum will all be taking part in the programme, showcasing their Jewish treasures.

Alex Gandler, a spokesman for the Israeli embassy in London, described the British Museum's descision to delay the event as "shameful".

He added "historical and academic truths are being stifled by a grotesque, violent pressure campaign.

"Those who need to be cancelled are the violent criminals that are threatening."

Shadow Attorney General David Wolfson said on social media: "The British Museum has cancelled a Jewish Culture Month event on Ancient Israel and Judah due to ‘security concerns’.

"If publicly-funded institutions cannot host such events without folding to pressure, serious questions arise about that funding."

It comes after criticism earlier this year led to the British Museum removing some references to "Palestine" and people of "Palestinian descent" in some of its displays.

Complaints by a pro-Israel group argued that they were deemed historically inaccurate and no longer neutral.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter