Reina Sofia Museum bows to pressure from Israel and withdraws one of its activities titled ‘From River to Sea’

From river to sea; International solidarity with Palestine The title chosen by the Reina Sofia Museum for its special event in support of Palestine was, “Crying for an end to war and genocide in the Mashreq region,” as indicated in the description on its website. A week after its launch on 8 May, and after receiving complaints from Israel for using a phrase they considered anti-Semitic; The Center has decided to amend it. As reported by the art gallery this Thursday, from now on it will be called Critical thinking meetings. International solidarity with Palestine,

Organized in collaboration with ‘Teja’. ‘Network of cultural spaces in support of emergency situations’, the cycle will be extended until 30 September. “Some sectors of civil society have pointed out that the title given to one of this season’s activities was offensive to some communities,” he explained the reason for his decision, where he specified that the new name is in line with their objective, a As a public institution, “seeking a meeting place through culture and intellectual debate.”

The Israeli Embassy condemned last week that the art gallery cycle “calls for destruction.” The Federation of Jewish Communities of Spain (FCJE) criticized the title in a statement because they said it “validates the aims of organizations considered terrorists by the EU, such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad and the National Liberation Front for Palestine (PFLP). Is.” ,

ICOM (International Council of Museums) Israel also issued a letter to the art gallery last Thursday the 9th, in which they claimed to be “deeply concerned by the choice”, in reference to the use of the statement ‘from the river to the sea’ Was. That phrase is very controversial, especially given the current political climate. “We are disappointed with their program,” they continued in the letter dated May 9. “They should take responsibility, try to protect cultural values ​​instead of escalating tensions and inciting further hostility.” “We urge you to change the title and review your program,” he concluded.

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder also spoke on the matter the same day: “The phrase ‘from the river to the sea’ is not merely provocative, as the administrators of the Reina Sofia Museum have led us to believe. It is a political slogan, used by the terrorist group Hamas and others. Which specifically refers to the area between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea and represents a call for the destruction of the Jewish state – even the toxic call for destruction of the Jewish state. That even in the preservation of a cultural initiative does not represent progress towards achieving peace. It is important to promote understanding rather than incite violence in these difficult times.”

In its statement released this Thursday, the Reina Sofia Museum assures that the initiatives that make up its special program are conceived as, “through art, a collective space for critical thinking about the current complex geopolitical landscape.” as well as supporting artists and the Palestinian Commissioner to connect their struggles and experiences to the international solidarity network.”

The project is composed of several formats that “offer different perspectives and take place at different times such as conferences, conversations, meetings with Palestinian artists, sound capsules, a publication by the Museum Confederation l’International or a neighborhood picnic.” The sixth edition, passed on the demand for an end to the war in Gaza and all wars, is among its next activities. Positioned Voices 31. Voices for Palestine against the militarization of the world, Speakers this Thursday will include Sara Babikar, Mai Al Bayoumi, Nadwa Abu Ghazalah Gonzalez, Yayo Herrero López, Flavia Introzzi and Olga Rodríguez.