Israel minister bars work from Jerusalem art students who protested Gaza massacre

An Israeli minister has intervened to bar work from Jerusalem art students being part of an international conference, after some students expressed solidarity with Palestinian protesters in the occupied Gaza Strip.

According to Haaretz, Science, Technology and Space Minister Ofir Akunis “barred work from students at the Bezalel Academy of Arts and Design from being exhibited at an international science conference this month in Jerusalem”, after some academy students “hung posters at their school on Wednesday with the names of those killed” by Israeli snipers.

Akunis said he is “always in favour of freedom of expression and creativity” but “will not permit freedom of humiliation,” in explaining his decision.

In addition, Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat condemned the display on Twitter. “I was shocked to see the names of terrorists who assaulted the Gaza-Israel border with the goal of killing Jews displayed on the walls of the Bezalel Academy,” Haaretz reported him tweeting.

According to Haaretz, “the three-day international science conference is due to open in another week and a half and is to be attended by science ministers from around the world. Plans call for the work of design students from around the country to be on display at the conference, but it will not now include the Bezalel Academy.”

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