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Igor Tulchinsky: Sponsor of British Museum Bayeux Tapestry exhibition funded community centre in West Bank settlement Submitted by Daniel Hilton on Wed, 09/09/2026 - 13:46 Billionaire paid for 'therapy yurt' in Efrat treating Israeli soldiers who fought in Gaza, despite being constructed on occupied Palestinian land Igor Tulchinsky, right, and Efrat Mayor Dovi Shefler, left, unveil the 'therapy yurt' at the Mondlak Center on 13 November 2025 Off The sponsor of the British Museum’s Bayeux Tapestry exhibition has funded a community centre in Efrat, an illegal Israeli settlement in the occupied West Bank that is now under UK sanctions. Igor Tulchinsky, a Belarus-born billionaire who has backed the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition in a deal estimated to be worth £5m ($6.75m), unveiled a “therapy yurt” in Efrat’s Mondlak Center in November 2025 alongside the settlement’s mayor, Dovi Shefler. The yurt is part of a “community resilience centre” serving Gush Etzion, a bloc of illegal Israeli settlements 12km southeast of Jerusalem, and Tulchinsky was identified as its primary sponsor. Tulchinsky is reported to have dedicated the facility to “Israel's brave warriors and their families” during a visit to the settlement in November 2025, according to a post on the Efrat Development Foundation’s Instagram page. Speaking at the opening, Tulchinsky described the yurt as “Israel’s inner Iron Dome”. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Efrat is built on land seized from four Palestinian villages, home to around 12,000 Israeli settlers and considered the capital of Gush Etzion, a sprawling collection of settlements that is expanding towards nearby Bethlehem. The Mondlak Center is an arm of the Efrat Development Foundation, a nonprofit organisation that describes itself as “dedicated to advancing Efrat’s social, cultural, and physical development”. According to the Efrat Development Foundation’s website, there are three levels of partnership for donors and sponsors, with the top “Vision Partner” level costing over $50,000 and providing the opportunity for “strategic planning”. The Efrat Development Foundation also advertises that it gives “pioneer family support in Givat HaEitam”, a reference to settlers who are establishing a highly controversial hilltop development known as “E-2” that peace activists warn will sever Bethlehem from the southern West Bank and ghettoise the city. The nature and extent of Tulchinsky's support, whether financial or otherwise, for the community centre is unclear, and Middle East Eye received no response to requests for comment directed to his investment firm, WorldQuant. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); When approached for comment by MEE, the Efrat Development Foundation confirmed Tulchinsky was a donor but said he did so through a separate organisation that it declined to name. An image of Tulchinsky attending the opening of the therapy yurt appears on the fundraising page of the foundation’s website. Sanctions The British Museum has not responded to MEE’s requests for comment about Tulchinsky’s sponsorship of the Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, which opened to the public on Thursday. But revelations about his visit to Efrat and his support for the community come just two days after British Foreign Secretary Ed Milliband announced a raft of sanctions against Israeli settlements. He accused settlers of “ethnic cleansing” Palestinians from the West Bank and said that the occupation is “unlawful because of Israel's entrenchment of its control, its intention to extend permanent sovereignty and its expansionist agenda via illegal settlements". (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); "We will take action against specific companies and individuals who provide services such as construction, infrastructure financing or real estate for settlement expansion,” he said in parliament. "So to those who finance or facilitate illegal settlements, let me say this: You will face the full force of UK sanctions. Settlements are illegal. They should not be promoted in our country." Igor Tulchinsky, pictured behind King Charles and other dignitaries, at the British Museum's Bayeux Tapestry exhibition launch (The Trustees of the British Museum) Shefler, Efrat’s mayor standing with Tulchinsky as the yurt was unveiled last year, has a history of making strong statements backing Israeli annexation of the West Bank. The council he oversees has breached even Israeli military regulations by expanding into territory administered by the Palestinian Authority, and he has lauded the way Efrat’s eastward expansion severely impedes chances of establishing a viable Palestinian state. “We are physically blocking the connection between Bethlehem and Hebron,” he said in an interview in April. “Whoever is plotting to establish a terrorist state here - we are simply cutting off their dream through construction.” Efrat is a distinctly far-right, religious-nationalist community. In Israel’s last election, in 2022, 48 percent of its votes went to Religious Zionism and Jewish Power, two far-right parties led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir. The UK sanctioned Smotrich and Ben Gvir in June 2025 for “repeated incitements of violence against Palestinian communities”. Smotrich appeared in a video alongside Shefler in May, where the minister is seen praising the mayor’s work to expand Efrat and the two urge construction of settlements in the Gaza Strip. 'A great living standard' It is estimated that around 50-60 percent of Efrat’s residents are native English speakers. In April, Declassified UK revealed that an Israeli organisation had been caught on camera offering to help British citizens move to Efrat. “You’re next to the Arabs; you’ll hear their mosques,” a member of the organisation, Shivat Zion, was recorded saying. “But apart from this, it’s a great living standard.” The Mondlak Center was named after Moshe and Lina Mondlak, residents of Gush Etzion who emigrated from the United Kingdom, and provides mental health services. According to a report in the Jerusalem News Syndicate, the yurt that Tulchinsky unveiled in November has space for three therapy rooms and an area outside for yoga, mindfulness and breathing workshops. Exclusive: Igor Tulchinsky, British Museum's Bayeux Tapestry sponsor, backs Israeli defence tech fund Read More » Demand for its services from soldiers and civilians reportedly surged during Israel’s genocide in Gaza. Tulchinsky dedicated the therapy yurt to “Israel’s heroes”, speaking about a “war after the war being fought by therapists, volunteers and by soldiers and their families who are learning to breathe again”. On Wednesday, Middle East Eye revealed that Tulchinsky has a defence tech-focused venture capital fund based in Israel headed by a recently retired army commander who has promoted the use of remote-controlled vehicles in Gaza. These vehicles have been described by one rights group as a “direct tool for committing genocide” and implicated in the destruction of entire neighbourhoods of Gaza and Lebanon, including priceless cultural heritage. In an interview with the Jerusalem Post in March, Tulchinsky said he had provided financial support to the Israeli army since the 7 October 2023 Hamas-led attacks and the start of the Gaza war, and said he visited the country regularly. Artists for Palestine UK, a network of artists and cultural workers, called the British Museum’s decision to partner with Tulchinsky “outrageous”. Israel's genocide in Gaza Sponsor of British Museum Bayeux Tapestry exhibition funded community centre in West Bank settlement News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0

UK settlement trade ban offers a lifeline to Palestine, and to an Israel on the brink Submitted by Xavier Abu Eid on Wed, 09/09/2026 - 20:52 After years of broken promises and Israeli impunity, some of the occupation's western enablers are finally willing to impose sanctions People hold a banner stating: “Genocide, occupation, apartheid, 3 reasons to sanction Israel” during a protest in Brussels, Belgium, on 11 May 2025 (Hatim Kaghat/Belga/AFP) Off The British government’s decision to ban trade with Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories should not be controversial. It is an acceptance of facts, including the illegality of the Israeli occupation, as ruled by the International Court of Justice. Britain must act in accordance with international law and UN resolutions, which require countries to “distinguish, in their relevant dealings, between the territory of the State of Israel and the territories occupied since 1967”. Yet several elements make this move extremely significant, including Britain’s historic denial of the Palestinian right to self-determination, and its coordination with other western governments that have announced parallel steps against the Israeli occupation.  This is unprecedented in the context of Palestine. While critics have warned the settlement ban could strengthen Israeli hardliners before an election, or negatively affect British Jews, both assertions are typical talking points used to discourage accountability measures against Israel.  (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Israel’s policies towards Palestinians extend beyond the current leadership. No Zionist opposition party is calling to end the illegal occupation. Actions such as the settlement ban, taken at this stage, may actually help to establish a roadmap for engagement with any future Israeli administration - one based on implementing international law, rather than promoting an endless “dialogue” aimed at normalising Israel’s illegal presence in Palestine.  Long overdue Tuesday’s announcement of a settlement trade ban was fully in line with Britain’s legal and political responsibilities in Palestine - and it was long overdue. Thousands of British Jews have demanded that their government take action against Israeli settlements. At the core of the criticisms of these measures is a total lack of consideration for the rights of Palestinians living under Israeli occupation, and their systematic calls for the world not to be complicit in Israel’s violations.  Palestinian rights, and accountability for the state that has long violated them, are now being put at the centre of the discussion  On the domestic front, one of the strongest arguments employed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is that he has made no concessions on the Palestinian file, while simultaneously expanding diplomatic relations with other states - most prominently through the US-backed Abraham Accords, promoted as a path towards regional peace. But six years since the accords were signed, Israel has ramped up its assault on Palestinian rights and expanded its annexation drive, while relations with the rest of the region have cooled considerably.  The British announcement thus appears to be part of a comprehensive effort to secure a two-state solution by tackling its main obstacle: Israel’s illegal occupation.  The announcement of sanctions against those funding illegal Israeli settlements and companies profiting from the occupation sends a message to banks and construction firms, prior to the advancement of major Israeli settlement infrastructure, such as the E1 project.  A number of European countries swiftly endorsed the UK move; several states, including Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium, had already taken action on settlement trade. For the Palestinian people, this does not bring an immediate end to the Israeli occupation, but it does represent the fulfillment of a basic requirement towards that goal.  Two-state solution For decades, Israel has not been incentivised to end its illegal occupation, despite significant normalisation efforts, including the 2002 Arab Peace Initiative. The British move marks a dramatic attempt to salvage the prospects of a two-state solution based on 1967 borders. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); It addresses the current power imbalance, telling the powerful occupier that it must choose between keeping its colonial enterprise intact, or preserving much-needed relations with the rest of the world.  UK trade ban on illegal settlements is a welcome first step to justice for Palestinians Read More » Israel is keenly aware that countries are losing patience, and if the occupation does not end, other nations will be obliged to deal with Israel not as the “democracy” it claims to be, but as a settler-colonial occupier that imposes apartheid on the occupied population. Since 1948, Israeli diplomats have grown accustomed to making commitments the state never intended to abide by, such as respecting the UN Charter, following through on Resolution 181’s commitment to a two-state solution, and adhering to Resolution 194 on the right of return for Palestinian refugees. This formula worked for decades, but Israel today has left no room for doubts about its intentions. For years, settlement expansion has continued unchecked, while successive prime minsters have entertained talks about a political solution. Netanyahu’s regime has pushed this project to new extremes, and governments finally appear to be learning their lessons. A few years ago, Britain was actively considering moving its embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. Today, it is outlining sanctions against the Israeli occupation, less than a year after recognising the state of Palestine. This shift aligns with public opinion, with many people now unwilling to accept the impunity long granted to Israel. Palestinians understand that the settlement trade ban will not immediately protect them from settler attacks, army raids, bombardments or land theft. But it is significant, because after many decades, the taboo on sanctioning Israeli products and entities has been lifted.  Palestinian rights, and accountability for the state that has long violated them, are now being put at the centre of the discussion. The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Eye. Occupation Opinion Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:29 Update Date Override 0

François Picard is pleased to welcome Victor Mallet, Financial Times Senior Editor at the World News Desk. He interprets the emerging tensions between Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella as more than a clash of personalities. They reveal a deeper struggle over the political future of France's far-right National Rally is becoming as they find themselves in prime position in their hunt to capture the French presidency. Bardella is formally president of the party and has developed his own political constituency, particularly among younger voters and parts of the business community. Yet Mallet argues that Le Pen continues to exercise the decisive ideological and strategic authority.

Algeria is severing diplomatic ties with the United Arab Emirates, state media reported Thursday. Algerian President ‌Abdelmadjid Tebboune has in the past accused the Gulf state of trying to meddle in Algeria's internal affairs.

Venice: A new documentary from two Oscar-winning Israeli filmmakers provides damning new testimony about AI-enabled mass killings in Gaza from the men and women who took part, the directors told AFP on Thursday ahead of its premiere in Venice. Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor said they had collected evidence from 24 different Israeli military or intelligence figures who agreed to testify on camera in Tel Aviv as long as their identities were protected. “We are letting the soldiers and the officers

The French Football Federation has decided unanimously to withdraw support for Gianni Infantino’s re-election as FIFA president following plans to sell World Cup stakes to private equity. UEFA demands his resignation and threatens a boycott.

Oil prices have surged above $100 a barrel as fighting between the U.S. and Iran intensifies, raising fresh concerns for consumers and businesses around the world.

The spectacle has been normalized at traffic stops in and around Nairobi, with acrobats taking advantage of gridlocks to perform for acknowledgement with cash tips. It is how they earn a living