A Jewish exhibit that was supposed to open Jan. 20 in Paris has been canceled after a last minute protest from an Arab organization, The Algemeiner reported Thursday.
Invitations had already been sent out for the exhibit, titled "People, Book, Land- The 3,500 Year Relationship of the Jewish People and the Land of Israel." It was created in partnership between the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization and the Jewish human rights group Simon Wiesenthal Center.
The exhibit, sponsored by Israel, Montenegro and Canada, was suddenly pulled when Adbulla al Neaimi from the United Arab Emirates, sent UNESCO a letter expressing "deep worry and great disapproval" over the exhibit's display of the ties between Israel and Jewish people, The Algemeiner reported.
UNESCO then sent a letter to Los Angeles-based SWC on Jan. 14, explaining the exhibit will not open because of the Arab League's concern that it will hurt Middle East peace talks.
"The subject of this exhibition is highly political though the appearance of the title seems to be trivial," al Neaimi wrote, according to The Algemeiner.
"The publicity that will accompany...the exhibit can only cause damage to the peace negotiations presently occurring, and the constant effort of Secretary of State John Kerry, and the neutrality and objectivity of UNESCO."
But the Dean of SWC, Rabbi Marvin Hier, said that the Arab League had previously known about the exhibit, which took two years to plan.
"We made clear attempt to work with them and the system, they can't say they were blindsided, they commented on every sentence (in the exhibit's materials) and still, in the end, the Arabs protested and they kicked us out," Marvin told The Algemeiner.
Marvin went on to say that pulling the exhibit was an "absolute outrage."
"The Arabs," Marvin told The Algemeiner, "don't want the world to know that the Jews have a 3,500-year relationship to the Land of Israel."
SWC responded to UNESCO's letter, expressing their hope that UNESCO will reverse its decision.
"We hope you have the courage to do the right thing and we are still looking forward to cutting the ribbon on the exhibition with you next Monday night, January 20, at UNESCO headquarters," SWC said, according to The Algemeiner.
