British Museum removes word ‘Palestine’ from some displays

The British Museum has removed the word "Palestine" from some displays in its ancient Middle East galleries. This decision followed concerns raised by UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI), who argued the term's retrospective application across millennia obscures the history of Israel and the Jewish people. UKLFI requested the museum use terms like Canaan, Israel, or Judea, depending on the historical period. The museum stated the changes were made after feedback and audience research, recognizing that "Palestine" no longer holds a neutral designation and may be understood in reference to political territory. The museum now uses "Canaan" for the southern Levant in the later second millennium BC and UN terminology for modern boundaries. A petition has been launched calling for the museum to reverse its decision.

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