Kevin Klein: Human rights museum can no longer avoid questions over Nakba exhibit

Work on the Canadian Museum for Human Rights' controversial Nakba exhibit should be paused, writes columnist Kevin Klein. A prominent Israeli legal centre says it will be filing an injunction "soon" in order to make that happen. Photo by Adobe Stock

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WINNIPEG, Man. — A leading Israeli legal organization is preparing to seek a court injunction to stop the Canadian Museum for Human Rights’ (CMHR’s) planned Nakba exhibit. Correspondence received this week from Joshua Z. Lavine of the Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center says the centre “is filing an injunction soon.”

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The legal step comes after internal emails obtained by the National Post revealed co-ordination between officials at the Winnipeg museum and a representative of the Palestinian Authority on the exhibit’s content and progress.

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In an email dated Dec. 5, 2024, Ramsey Zeid, president of the Canadian Palestinian Association of Manitoba and a member of the museum’s Palestinian Content Advisory Network, wrote to CMHR Vice-President of Exhibitions, Matthew Cutler, and CEO Isha Khan. He said Palestinian representative Mona Abuamara would be touring the museum six days later and wanted a meeting “to discuss the Nakba exhibit.” Zeid added that Abuamara was “keen to receive an update on the progress of the project … and explore how she might be able to assist if necessary.”

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Cutler replied the next day, saying staff would speak with Abuamara “about our work around sharing Palestinian human rights stories through the museum, including the exhibit.” The Palestinian General Delegation confirmed to the National Post that the meeting occurred.

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Separately, emails obtained by the Winnipeg Sun show that CMHR CEO Isha Khan was simultaneously briefing senior Canadian heritage officials on the museum’s handling of the Israel-Hamas conflict. In December 2023 correspondence, Khan told a senior heritage official that she wanted to update her on “a few things going on at the museum in relation to the conflict in Israel/Palestine,” including board discussions and the annual fundraising gala. The museum receives the majority of its funding from the department Khan was updating.

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When the National Post asked the museum last November about Jewish groups’ concerns over balance and consultation, spokesperson Amanda Gaudes described the exhibit as “neither a historical retrospective nor an examination of the founding of the State of Israel.” She called it a multimedia presentation focused on “the lived experiences of Palestinian-Canadians.” Gaudes declined to name members of the content advisory committee. The Post later obtained the 2023 list, which included Zeid. After the October 7 massacre, Zeid publicly wrote that “Zionism is a disease that must be destroyed.”

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Montreal lawyer Neil Oberman told the National Post there is a serious question as to whether the museum violated its mandate under the Museums Act to enhance public understanding of human rights and promote respect for others. He noted that while engagement with a foreign mission is not automatically unlawful, the lack of transparency around a foreign representative’s interest in shaping content raises serious ethical concerns. Canadian Museums Association guidelines require multiple perspectives to be presented fairly and impartially.