Arnolfini statement criticised by Israel support organisation

A group of lawyers that supports Israel has criticised a statement made by the Arnolfini last week in which the art gallery apologised for cancelling an event as part of the Bristol Palestine Film Festival last November.

Arnolfini's apology condemned "the ongoing devastation and loss of life in Gaza, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Israel" as "abhorrent". 

“The International Court of Justice has described Israel’s actions in Gaza as plausible acts of genocide," the statement said.

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) have claimed that the statement is "inaccurate, political and outside its charitable objects".

The group says it has written to the Executive Director of the Arnolfini Gallery, Gary Topp, claiming that the statement "demonises Israel"and "is likely to incite violence against Jews around the world", urging the organisation to "take action immediately to correct this dangerous untruth".

It’s the second apology the Bristol gallery has issued over its decision to cancel a screening of the coming-of-age film Farha, followed by a panel discussion and a live poetry night as part of the festival. However, its first statement, issued on 16 January, was criticised by campaigners for not containing the word “Palestine”.

In contrast, Arnolfini’s latest statement from its Board of Trustees and Senior Leadership Team explicitly denounces the “overwhelming humanitarian crisis" and apologises for not providing "a platform for Palestinian voices". 

Explaining its original reasoning for dropping the events, Arnolfini cited the “difficulty for arts charities hosting events that might be construed as political activity”, adding it "could not be confident" the event would not "stray into political activity".

Arnolfini's cancellation of the event was widely criticised and prompted a boycott led by the activist group Artists for Palestine, as well as a series of sit-ins that forced the venue to close.

UKLFI’s Sam Green commented: “The Arnolfini’s so-called apology is an abrogation of its duty to remain non-political. It favours a certain view, a certain sector, giving in to the clamour of a highly organised political movement and only listening to certain voices.

"The Arnolfini’s apology embeds itself in one viewpoint and fails to  recognise the rights of Jewish people in Bristol and beyond, the vast majority of whom will support the right of Israel to exist and to defend itself.”