AIC's 44th Annual Meeting

The loss of cultural property in the Middle East has received intense news coverage over the past few years. Publications that address the complexities of protecting heritage in the face of armed conflict or examine previous failures and successes from World War II through to the 2003 Iraq war are increasing. However, in the summer of 2014 in the midst of a military offensive named "Operation Protective Edge" by the Israeli government, the current literature failed to usefully address the issues experienced by conservators in Israeli museums. Since 2000 Israel has been involved in, or the site of, five armed conflicts. These short wars or "operations" have occurred every two to three years and result in the puncturing of the rhythms of what is normally a Western-style culture and lifestyle with intermittent bombings and missile attacks. Unlike the long-running armed conflicts that have consumed Israel's Middle Eastern neighbors where museums and sites suffer from targeted and sustained damage, within Israel, cultural institutions have not been specifically targeted for attack. However, the weapons and tactics in use are not precise enough for institutions to feel that they need not prepare for a catastrophic event. While some Israeli museums have emergency and disaster plans that consider terrorism and war events, the intense push seen in North America in developing emergency protocols has not reached Israel despite the obvious need. Many institutions have lists of their most important or valuable artifacts and a few have plans for what to do in the event of a war. But deciding when to implement these protocols in the face of sporadic attacks is often a difficult judgement call resulting in delays that make them ineffective considering the fast-moving nature of the conflicts. In fact, most nations have not been proactive in developing emergency protocols for situations of armed conflict and acts of terrorism, in spite of recent current events. This paper will outline the challenges noted during a conservator-led initiative for developing stronger emergency protocols for Israeli museums with moveable cultural heritage. Recommendations for linking implementation of emergency preparation steps to local security alert levels will be discussed, as well as other recommendations for exhibition and renovation that facilitate speedy action and long-term protection of art and artifacts in a volatile area.