SYDNEY — The Australian Arabic Communities Council (AACC) has criticised the decision of the NSW government's Powerhouse Museum to remove parts of the Treasures of Palestine exhibition following representations by pro-Israel organisations.

It was revealed on the ABC TV's Lateline program on November 17 that dozens of political photographs and posters, and two documentaries, that were in the exhibition when it appeared at the Canberra Museum and Gallery had been left out of its Sydney leg. All photographs featuring Israeli occupation soldiers were dropped.

The exhibits, collected by the Palestinian Authority's representative in Australia Ali Kazak, have been displayed seven times over the past 16 years. This is the first time the exhibition's political content has been excluded.

AACC chairperson Hassan Moussa on November 18 stated that “as a public institution, the Powerhouse Museum should be equally accessible to all people of NSW”.

“We notice that the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies was consulted about this exhibition. Yet we, as a peak Australian Arabic community organisation in NSW, were not. And as far as we are aware, no other Arab organisation was consulted either”, Moussa said.

“Both NSW Jewish Board of Deputies president Stephen Rothman and Powerhouse Museum director Dr Kevin Fewster denied that there was any censorship of the exhibition. Yet 45 of the 50 photographs were cut, as well as two political documentaries, leaving only a fashion film and craft show. Further, it was reported that all images of Israeli soldiers were culled.

“What this represents is the deliberate suppression of one community's narrative in favour of another's. This is an issue that must concern the public. In the interests of transparency and community relations, the AACC has called on the Powerhouse Museum to explain why the exhibition was cut and who influenced the decision to censor”, Moussa said

Protest the censorship of Treasures of Palestine by phoning Kevin Fewster on (02) 9217 0111 or email your concerns to <info@phm.gov.au>.

From Green Left Weekly, December 10, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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