“It is unacceptable for BDS activists to single out Israel and ban our event,” Danon said in a statement. “I call on the Board of Directors of the Queens Museum to dismiss Ms. Raicovich from her position immediately and honor their commitment to hold this important event.”
The call by Danon comes after Israel’s U.N. Mission was slated to host an event commemorating the 70th anniversary of U.N. General Assembly Resolution 181 that led to the establishment of Israel. The Israeli Mission had decided to hold the event in the original U.N. hall where the 1947 vote took place. The hall is now owned by the city of New York and houses the Queens Museum.
After initially agreeing to host the event, the museum’s Executive Director Laura Raicovich, who has authored books and articles supporting the BDS movement, later notified Danon that her board of directors decided not to hold a “political event.”
Late Wednesday, the Queens Museum reversed its decision and announced that it will hold the U.N. event.
“We welcome this step by the Museum to rectify their earlier unfortunate decision,” Danon said. “Any attempt to discriminate against Israel is completely unacceptable and we will continue to fight against such injustices.” Earlier, Danon had said, “Celebrating the momentous decision of the U.N. recognizing the right to a Jewish state in our homeland is not a political event, but rather an expression of the historical and legal rights of our people.”
(JNS.org)
