Here’s how. The South Kensington attraction is today hosting a series of seminars and workshops aimed at promoting Israeli research. ‘Israel Day of Science’ showcases the scientific research at seven Israeli universities to over 1000 school children. You can probably see where this is heading. Not everyone thinks that the academic centres of Israel are working entirely for the betterment of humankind. According to Booker-shortlisted writer Ahdaf Soueif, speaking to the Independent , Israeli scientific institutions are intimately tied with military might:

Should the Science Museum give its imprimatur to Israel so soon after what Israel has done in Gaza? Should it, moreover, specifically allow its name and reputation to be used to give kudos to Israeli institutions directly involved with Israeli military like, for example, Tel Aviv University? It can no longer be seen as an institution of integrity.

Her views are backed up by over 400 scientists, including Ian Gibson MP, the former chairman of the House of Commons Science Select Committee, who have signed a petition against the event.

They think: “If Robert Mugabe wanted to hire out these museums’ spaces for a corporate event, we know what they would say.”

The museum says: “[we] believe that not to proceed with the event would mean taking a political stand, which would be wholly inappropriate.”

The event has now swollen into a Jerusalem artichoke of a pickle, with petitioners threatening to picket outside the museum today. The Science Museum are at pains to point out that the event was booked over a year ago, long before the recent military escalations in the region and it’s hard to see how they could have backed down given that they’re not in the business of making political decisions. On the other hand, the timing does seem rather insensitive. There are sure to be a few children in the audience with Palestinian backgrounds. What are they going to make of all this?