The European Jewish Congress (EJC) has joined the AJC Transatlantic Institute, B’nai B’rith International, and the International Movement for Peace and Coexistence (IMPAC) in co-signing a joint letter addressed to European Parliament President Roberta Metsola, expressing concern over a recent exhibition hosted on the Parliament’s premises.
The letter raises objections to the exhibition titled “GAZA”, which featured works by Matthew Collings and Ondřej Dřescher, and was hosted at the European Parliament from 4 to 8 May 2026 under the auspices of an MEP invitation.
The signatories argue that the exhibition, in their view, crossed the boundary from political commentary into what they describe as the amplification of antisemitic tropes.
The organisations specifically reference concerns about alleged historical stereotypes and imagery, including depictions interpreted as dehumanising or as invoking antisemitic narratives. The letter also recalls prior controversies linked to one of the artists and argues that granting institutional space within the European Parliament risks undermining the institution’s responsibility to safeguard against hate speech.
A central element of the appeal is a call for stronger institutional safeguards. The signatories urge the European Parliament to ensure that its facilities are not used in ways that could, in their view, contribute to the normalisation or dissemination of antisemitic narratives. They also call for a reaffirmation of the European Parliament’s commitment to the IHRA Working Definition of Antisemitism as a guiding framework for assessing such cases.
Beyond the exhibition itself, the letter highlights broader concerns about rising antisemitism in Europe, arguing that institutions must take a clear stance to protect Jewish communities and prevent the legitimisation of harmful stereotypes in political spaces.
The organisations further call on the President of the European Parliament to consider appropriate measures in relation to the MEP who facilitated the exhibition and to reinforce internal procedures governing the use of parliamentary spaces for cultural and political events.
In concluding, the signatories frame the issue as part of a wider challenge for European institutions in balancing freedom of expression with the responsibility to prevent hate speech, stressing that the Parliament should serve as a “bulwark against hate rather than a venue for it.”
The letter was jointly signed by senior representatives of the four organisations, including leadership figures from the European Jewish Congress (EJC), the AJC Transatlantic Institute, B’nai B’rith International, and the International Movement for Peace and Coexistence (IMPAC).
