Major Jewish Groups Hit Met Museum for Cancelling Israeli Exhibition

Major Jewish organizations today attacked the Metropolitan Museum of Art for its decision not to display an archaeological exhibit from Israel because some of the artifacts are from the West Bank and would therefore pose a security risk to the museum.

In a joint statement by the American Jewish Committee; American Jewish Congress, and the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York, the three organizations expressed “dismay and outrage” at the reasons given by the museum for refusing to allow the exhibit.

“We find it most deplorable that the Metropolitan should take such a narrow political view regarding an outstanding cultural exhibit that is intended to illustrate the development of civilization in the Holy Land from earliest times through the Crusades and includes materials of Jewish, Christian and Islamic significance,” the statement said.

“The Metropolitan in the past has shown many other exhibits from countries and regions involved in current political controversy. It is therefore all the more unconscionable that an institution of the Metropolitan’s stature should lend support in any way to the campaign of those who would seek to de-legitimize the State of Israel. In the Metropolitan’s stated effort to avoid political controversy, the museum has in fact needlessly allowed itself to be drawn into current issues of dispute.”

DANGEROUS PRECEDENT CITED

The Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith termed the museum’s decision “regrettable and undefensible” and said the museum’s director, Phillippe de Montebello, engaged in “specious reasoning” in alleging that the exhibition would be a statement of foreign policy on the part of the museum.

“Judging whether to do a show based upon political rather than cultural considerations would set a dangerous precedent by requiring that potential exhibitions from every part of the world be debated by a museum in terms of foreign policy,” the ADL said.

Nathan Perlmutter, ADL’s national director, said: “Culture and history have always transcended politics and, in the case of this particular show containing the Dead Sea scrolls, among other ancient treasures, large numbers of persons are being denied an opportunity to view objects that are an essential and integral part of the chronicle of Western civilization.”

THE PSYCHOLOGY OF FEAR

Ivan Novick, president of the Zionist Organization of America, said that the museum’s decision to cancel the Israeli exhibit because it created a “security risk from radical elements” demonstrates how “the psychology of fear” operates. He added: “if Arab pressure can dictate the price of fuel, influence foreign policy, and determine what exhibits the Metropolitan Museum of Art presents, have we not forfeited our right as Americans to be the advocate of freedom throughout the world? At issue is not Israeli land or ancient relics. It is the soul of America and the pride and independence of its people that are being challenged.”