Palestine Museum US Eyes Israeli Embassy
After a successful pop-up event in Ireland, the director of the Connecticut-based Palestine Museum US, Faisal Saleh; a Palestinian-American entrepreneur; is optimistic about transforming the former shuttered Israeli Embassy into its “permanent European headquarters.” In a statement given to The Art Newspaper, he exclaims, “We want to change what was the headquarters for a war zone into an art zone.” With this decision, he aims to spotlight Palestine’s story via sculptures, artworks, and installations.
On December 15, the Israeli government announced their plan to shut down the embassy in Dublin, pointing to Ireland’s recognition of a Palestinian state in May (making it one of three European nations to do so) and its backing of South Africa’s genocide case against Israel at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) regarding actions in Gaza. The flag was removed on Friday, 19 December.
The Israeli Embassy’s relocation to the fifth-floor space of the building in 2020 was concerning, regarding security issues among other occupants, who initiated a lawsuit in the High Court. This case was dismissed in March of that same year.
Gideon Saar on Ireland’s Position
Israeli Foreign Minister, Gideon Saar stated, “The decision to close Israel’s Embassy in Dublin was made in light of the extreme anti-Israel policies of the Irish government. Ireland has crossed every red line in its relations with Israel. Israel will invest its resources in advancing bilateral relations with countries worldwide, prioritising those that align with Israel’s interests and values.”
Simon Harris on Israel’s Decision
Simon Harris, Ireland’s Prime Minister or Taoiseach calls Israel’s decision, “deeply regrettable.” He adds, “I utterly reject the assertion that Ireland is anti-Israel. Ireland is pro-peace, pro-human rights and pro-international law. Ireland wants a two-state solution and for Israel and Palestine to live in peace and security. Ireland will always speak up for human rights and international law. Nothing will distract from that.”
Faisal Saleh’s Action Plan
Faisal Saleh views this crisis as a chance. In an interview with The Irish Times, he intends to reach out to anyone who might have contact with the organization that leased the building that once housed the embassy. He considers this as a “practical and political move”. He says the Palestine Museum US “has been considering establishing more permanent spaces in Europe including Venice and London, as it’s more economical to have a permanent base in Europe, to avoid shipping fees”.
Saleh adds, “It’s a lot more efficient if you had a permanent space. But it would also have to make sense financially for us. We are still waiting to get some information. If it happened, we would open it as a museum with permanent exhibitions,” About Saar’s decision, he says, “Good riddance. Who wants to have the presence of a genocidal state in their country? It’s horrific what they’re doing, and Ireland is one of the very few countries supporting the Palestinian people.”
The Building’s Management
The entity managing the property located at 23 Shelbourne Road in the affluent area of Ballsbridge—one of Dublin’s most prestigious locales—is Spectre (Shelbourne), which does not provide public contact information, though its address is known to be 15 Merrion Square North in Dublin, with Joe Christel listed as its director.
Jane Jermyn on the Move
Jane Jermyn, an Irish artist and an active member of the Cork Palestine Solidarity Campaign states, “I think it would be excellent to have a Palestinian Museum in the old Israeli Embassy. It would help remove the ‘stain’ of having had that embassy there. Many of us were sorry that Israel hadn’t been expelled earlier, rather than have them leave of their own accord.” She adds, “It is imperative to exhibit Palestinian art at this time. Art is a universal language. So much of the world seems to not see Palestinians as people just like us. Exhibitions such as the recent one in Bantry help to document life in Palestine through the eyes of several extraordinary artists.”
Image Courtesy – Cillian Sherlock/PA Wire
Contributor
