Exclusive: MPs demand investigation into British Museum’s 'erasure' of Palestine

Exclusive: MPs demand investigation into British Museum’s 'erasure' of Palestine

Cross-party MPs have demanded an urgent, independent investigation into the British Museum’s erasures of “Palestine", “Palestinian” and “Israelite occupation” from displays, citing fears of political interference and misleading statements by the national institution.

The call from Green, Labour and Your Party MPs comes after a Middle East Eye investigation revealed that the museum’s decisions to remove the terms came in direct response to lobbying by pro-Israel activists between October and December 2024.

Green MP Sian Berry described MEE’s findings as “deeply troubling”, while Your Party MP Jeremy Corbyn described the erasures as “anti-Palestinian racism”.

Berry, the MP for Brighton Pavilion, said: “Succumbing to pressure in this way, if this is what has happened, hugely discredits the museum’s leadership and undermines its work.

“An independent investigation should urgently be launched to determine if political interference has occurred.”

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The front courtyard of the British Museum, photographed through railings in December 2024 (Daniel Leal/AFP) ...