Heritage centre faces closure as Netanyahu government slashes funding to rival PM’s memorial

A heritage centre dedicated to Levi Eshkol, Israel’s third prime minister, faces potential closure after the government has drastically cut its funding in recent years. The cuts appear to be part of a broader reallocation of memorial budgets away from institutions not aligned with the current government, with resources instead directed towards right-wing organisations and bodies associated with the ruling Likud party. Eshkol’s grandson has criticised the decision, suggesting the cuts go beyond simple budgetary considerations. “It’s hard to see this purely as a professional decision,” he said. “This is how the government commemorates its founders.” The cuts underscore tensions over how Israel’s historical legacy is presented and funded, with different political movements seeking to shape national memory according to their ideological preferences. The Prime Minister’s Office defended the decision, stating that “the budget is divided among a large number of organisations,” suggesting the cuts reflect broader fiscal constraints rather than political targeting. However, the dramatic reduction in support for the Eshkol centre—one of the country’s most significant historical institutions—has raised concerns about the politicisation of heritage funding during the current government’s tenure.

Source: Ynet — Original article in Hebrew.