British Museum: UKLFI Letter Targets 'Palestine' Labeling in Exhibits

UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) has sent a letter to Nicholas Cullinan, the director of the British Museum, objecting to the use of the term "Palestine" in exhibition labels, arguing that the framing amounts to the erasure of ancient Jewish kingdoms. The letter, reported by Middle East Eye on 7 May 2026, contends that naming an exhibit or object as originating from "Palestine" effectively negates references to the historical kingdoms of Israel and Judea — terms used in biblical and archaeological discourse. The group urged the museum to reconsider its labeling conventions. Cullinan, who has served as director since December 2023, has not publicly responded to the letter. The British Museum declined to comment. UKLFI — a voluntary association of lawyers and legal academics — has previously written to other British cultural institutions urging similar terminology adjustments. Its position holds that ancient Judea's historical reality is obscured when modern political nomenclature is retroactively applied to pre-existing entities. Critics of the approach argue that using contemporary political terms in historical contexts is standard museum practice and that updated terminology reflects scholarly consensus on the region. The British Museum houses artifacts spanning multiple millennia and multiple political entities, and its labeling conventions have evolved over decades. Previous labeling controversies at major British institutions have surfaced periodically, particularly around collections touching the Levant, Roman-era archaeology, and Ottoman-period history. How the museum responds could set precedent for other institutions navigating similar tensions between historical accuracy, political sensitivities, and advocacy-driven correspondence.