logo
British Museum ignores mounting staff anger over Israel event

British Museum ignores mounting staff anger over Israel event

Middle East Eye18-06-2025
The British Museum has ignored repeated calls by staff for a public apology following an event marking the anniversary of Israel's 77th Independence Day on 13 May.
The private gathering was organised by the Israeli embassy, with speakers including the Israeli ambassador to the UK, Tzipi Hotovely, and the UK minister for defence procurement and industry, Maria Eagle.
Reportedly, comedian Jimmy Carr, Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Reform UK leader, Nigel Farage, also attended.
Images of the event circulated online showed the museum's great court bathed in blue light and festooned with Israeli flags.
But the museum's staff were kept in the dark about the event - they were simply informed of a 'large corporate function' and instructed to leave early on the day 'with minimal notice'.
Read more: British Museum ignores mounting staff anger over Israel event
Israeli ambassador Tzipi Hotovely speaks at the event at the British Museum (Screengrab/X)
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

UAE strongly condemns, denounces storming of Al-Aqsa Courtyard; warns against escalation
UAE strongly condemns, denounces storming of Al-Aqsa Courtyard; warns against escalation

Gulf Today

time30 minutes ago

  • Gulf Today

UAE strongly condemns, denounces storming of Al-Aqsa Courtyard; warns against escalation

The United Arab Emirates strongly condemned the storming of Al-Aqsa Courtyard by Itamar Ben-Gvir, the Israeli Minister of National Security, alongside settlers, under the protection of the Israeli police, considering it a provocative escalation and an unacceptable act of extremism. In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) called on the Israeli government to assume full responsibility, condemn these hostile acts, and hold all those involved accountable, particularly ministers and officials within the Israeli government. The UAE affirmed that the continued attacks by Israeli extremists and their incitement to hatred and violence constitute a systematic extremist campaign that not only targets the brotherly Palestinian people but also threatens social peace, and risks further escalation. Furthermore, the UAE emphasised the need to respect the historical and legal status quo of Al-Aqsa Mosque, ensure the protection of all holy sites, and uphold the custodial role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in overseeing the endowments and managing the affairs of Al-Aqsa Mosque. WAM

UK-France migrant returns deal to take effect
UK-France migrant returns deal to take effect

Gulf Today

time32 minutes ago

  • Gulf Today

UK-France migrant returns deal to take effect

A "one-in, one-out" deal in which Britain can return some migrants who cross the Channel in small boats back to France comes into force on Wednesday, the UK government has announced. The interior ministry said British authorities were "operationally ready" and that migrant detentions were expected to begin "within days" following the ratification of the agreement. "Today we send a clear message — if you come here illegally on a small boat you will face being sent back to France," Prime Minister Keir Starmer said in a statement after striking the deal with French President Emmanuel Macron last month. The agreement seeks to curb record levels of irregular Channel crossings, which are causing discontent in Britain and helping fuel the rise of the hard-right Reform UK party. Under the arrangement — for now a pilot scheme set to run until June 2026 — irregular migrants arriving on UK shores could be detained and then returned to France if they are deemed ineligible for asylum. In exchange, the UK will accept an equal number of migrants from France who can apply for a visa to enter the UK via an online platform, giving priority to nationalities most vulnerable to smugglers and people with ties in Britain. The text of the treaty published and laid in front of parliament on Tuesday stipulates that Britain will submit a request for transferring a person back to France within 14 days of their arrival in Britain. The whole process of returning someone could take three months and the UK will cover all the costs. Unaccompanied minors will not be eligible for deportation under the scheme, the treaty adds. The two governments signed the final text last week, with the European Commission giving its "green light on this innovative approach", Britain's Home Office said in a statement late on Monday. French Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau wrote on X that the accord would come into force on Wednesday. "I reaffirm France's determination to stop the flow and save lives," he said. Refugee charities have criticised the deal, urging the British government to provide more safe and legal routes for asylum seekers instead. The number of migrants making the dangerous journey in flimsy dinghies this year crossed 25,000 at the end of July, the highest tally ever at this point in the year. The rise, which the government has partly attributed to extended periods of good weather, means Labour leader Starmer is struggling to fulfil one of his campaign main pledges from his general election win last year. In recent weeks, anti-immigration demonstrators and counter-protesters have clashed outside hotels housing asylum seekers in Britain, with some marches turning violent. Starmer has tried to portray the deal as a diplomatic victory after years of faltering cooperation between France and the UK on the politically sensitive issue. "This is the product of months of grown-up diplomacy delivering real results for British people as we broker deals no government has been able to achieve," he said. While the agreement has also met with criticism in northern France, where some officials say the scheme is too favourable to the UK, Nigel Farage's anti-immigrant Reform UK party says it does not go far enough to secure Britain's borders. There are no numbers mentioned in the treaty, and interior minister Yvette Cooper said Tuesday that she would not put a figure on how many migrants would be deported under the deal. UK media has reported that it could be about 50 a week. "Of course, it will start with lower numbers and then build, but we want to be able to expand it," Cooper told BBC radio. The Home Office this week pledged £100 million ($132 million) to beef up law enforcement "tackling" the gangs who organise the crossings. Starmer's government also said it would make it an offence to promote dangerous immigration routes into the UK on social media. Under the new provision, which will be part of a border security bill making its way through parliament, those found advertising such crossings could be fined and face up to five years in prison. According to Home Office analysis, 80 percent of migrants arriving via small boats told officials they used social media during the process. Agence France-Presse

Trump administration removes clause that cuts funding to states boycotting Israel
Trump administration removes clause that cuts funding to states boycotting Israel

Middle East Eye

time33 minutes ago

  • Middle East Eye

Trump administration removes clause that cuts funding to states boycotting Israel

A clause in the Federal Emergency Management Agency's (Fema) guidelines threatening US states and territories that boycott Israel with the denial of federal funds for natural disaster preparation was discreetly removed from its terms and conditions directives on Monday after backlash. The change in status came after media reports on Monday explained how funding was conditional on states following Department of Homeland Security (DHS) conditions laid out in April. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema) announced on Friday it was making nearly $1bn available to states to protect themselves from natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and fires, as well as terrorist attacks and cyber disruptions. However, before being removed, the clause said: 'Discriminatory prohibited boycott means refusing to deal, cutting commercial relations, or otherwise limiting commercial relations specifically with Israeli companies or with companies doing business in or with Israel or authorized by, licensed by, or organized under the laws of Israel to do business,' according to 11 agency grant notices reviewed by Reuters. DHS, which oversees Fema, reportedly removed this clause from section 17 on anti-discrimination under its terms and conditions. New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters Fema had announced on Friday it was making nearly $1bn available to states to protect themselves from natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, and fires, as well as terrorist attacks and cyber disruptions. This $1bn allocation, which will apply to 15 different grant programmes, is part of the "Notices of Funding Opportunity amounting to more than $2.2 billion available to state, local, tribal and territorial governments to help them protect American citizens", Fema states on its website. DHS sent Middle East Eye a statement on Monday, saying: 'There is no FEMA requirement tied to Israel in any current NOFO. No states have lost funding, and no new conditions have been imposed. 'FEMA grants remain governed by existing law and policy and not political litmus tests. DHS will enforce all anti-discrimination laws and policies, including as it relates to the BDS movement, which is expressly grounded in antisemitism. Those who engage in racial discrimination should not receive a single dollar of federal funding.' BDS refers to the Palestinian-led Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which aims to "pressure Israel to comply with international law". Existing law Although the clause has been removed, more than 30 US states already have laws that require 'public entities to certify they do not and will not boycott Israel'. However, public outcry over the worsening humanitarian conditions in Gaza has led to institutions and companies coming under increasing pressure to divest from Israeli and international companies investing in Israel. The momentum for the BD movement in the US was spearheaded by students on college campuses across the country last year due to outrage over the war on Gaza, which to date has killed over 60,000 Palestinians, wounded over 100,000 and decimated the strips infrastructure. While many institutions have refused pressure to divest from Israel, a handful of institutions like Union Theological Seminary have applied new investment screenings to divest from companies profiting from Israel's war on Gaza. San Francisco State University also agreed to disclose its investments quarterly and added new screening policies for investment decisions last year. Following this agreement, San Francisco State University agreed to pull investments from three companies it claimed do not meet its human rights standards, including aerospace and defence company Lockheed Martin, stock positions in Italian defence company Leonardo, and US-based data analysis enterprise, Palantir Technologies.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store