Israeli Artists Report Increased Boycotts in International Cultural and Academic Spheres

Boaz Berman, who founded the dance troupe Mayumana in 1996, said the group mixes rhythm, music and dance and previously maintained many international partnerships. After October 7, several collaborators ended their relationships. Berman said Spanish partners who had worked with the troupe for years asked Mayumana to publicly support Palestine.

When the group responded that it does not mix politics with art, the affiliation was dissolved. "This was a big blow," Berman said. He added that the troupe had worked with partners in Spain, South America and Australia. " An academic who asked not to be named said researchers have refused to publish with Israelis and that submissions from Israelis are being rejected in the arts, humanities and sciences.

The academic described Israel as a "damaged product" and "persona non grata" in many European academic circles, with fewer invitations extended to Israeli scholars. Michal Bar-Asher Siegal, a professor of Talmud and vice president of Global Engagement at Ben-Gurion University, oversees contracts for faculty and student exchanges.

She said only one-third of the agreements the university had two years ago remain in effect. Bar-Asher Siegal said she explains to partner universities that boycotting Israeli academia harms Arab and Jewish students who study together and damages programs that promote coexistence.

"The State of Israel has to realize that this is a real danger," Bar-Asher Siegal said. "If Israeli academia gets shut down, scholars will leave Israel, doctors will leave. A former colleague at a motion picture studio advised her to shelve the project, stating it could not be sold in the current environment.

Several literary agents told her that publishers are reluctant to accept novels featuring Israeli heroes or storylines. One international publisher, who declined to be named, received hate mail on social media after releasing a book by an Israeli hostage who documented experiences from the October 7, 2023 attacks.

Berman noted that prior to October 7, the troupe received performance offers regularly. After disclosing its base in Tel Aviv, some contacts refused further discussion. He said demonstrations outside theaters where Mayumana performed have become more hostile.

Maimon, senior fellow at the Jewish People Policy Institute, suggested focusing outreach on countries and groups already supportive of Israel rather than those expressing opposition. He identified evangelicals, Argentina and Panama as potential allies and recommended developing strategies to engage them instead of seeking broader approval.

Bar-Asher Siegal said Israel was once viewed as aligned with European values of liberal democracy but is no longer perceived that way by some European institutions. Maimon countered that Europe and Israel drew different conclusions from the Holocaust, with Europeans emphasizing post-national ideals and Israel focusing on sovereignty and self-defense.

Alon Amir, who has represented Israeli delegations at the Eurovision song contest, said promoting entertainers who support Israel is complicated. He described it as a "double-edged sword" because of potential backlash against those individuals. The Venice Biennale art festival is scheduled to open on May 9, 2026 with participation from 99 nations, including Israel.

Its international jury resigned over the inclusion of Israel and Russia.