Compere: Tony Jones
Reporter: John Stewart

TONY JONES: Well, back home and, only weeks after a fierce campaign to stop Palestinian activist Dr Hanan Ashrawi from receiving the Sydney Peace Prize, there are allegations that key lobbyists from the Jewish community have attempted to censor a Sydney exhibition depicting Palestinian life.

When first seen in Canberra, the exhibition called 'Treasures of Palestine' featured dozens of political photographs and posters and a documentary on the intifada, but Sydney's Powerhouse Museum has removed most of the contentious exhibits.

John Stewart has this exclusive report.

JOHN STEWART: Five months ago, 'Treasures of Palestine' was displayed at the Canberra Museum and Gallery.

It included over 50 photographs featuring Palestinian protests, Israeli forces, contentious political posters and three documentary films.

But the Sydney Powerhouse Museum's version of the exhibition is radically reduced.

Of the original 50 photos, only 5 have been kept.

All images of Israeli soldiers have been culled.

And the two political documentaries have been dropped, leaving only a Palestinian fashion film.

The collection by Australia's Palestinian delegate, Ali Kazak, has been exhibited seven times over the past 16 years.

This is the first time its political content has been excluded.

ALI KAZAK, PALESTINIAN DELEGATE: I think it's shameful for the director of the museum to censor something like this from the view of the public.

Any museum which respects itself would never censor material from the public.

JOHN STEWART: But the director of Australia's largest museum says it doesn't have enough room.

KEVIN FEWSTER, DIRECTOR POWERHOUSE MUSEUM: The only space we had available, because the exhibition came at very short notice to us, and the only space we had available at the appropriate time was this gallery we are standing in now, which is significantly smaller than the space that the exhibition was shown in Canberra.

JOHN STEWART: The exhibition opened at a time when the power of Australia's Jewish lobby was at the centre of media attention.

It was a fortnight before Palestinian activist Dr Hanan Ashrawi was to receive the Sydney Peace Prize and Jewish groups were lobbying to stop her winning the award.

In this environment, minutes obtained by Lateline of a museum staff meeting revealed concerns of outside interference.

STAFF MEETING MINUTES: Concerns were raised by some staff regarding the way the project has developed over the past few weeks.

The influence of external stakeholders was raised and pointed out that these parties have taken on a much more influential role than had initially been indicated.

JOHN STEWART: Among those consulted about the exhibition, the NSW Jewish Board of Deputies.

It denies being able to influence the display.

STEPHEN ROTHMAN, PRESIDENT, NSW BOARD OF DEPUTIES: We were shown exactly what was in the end part of the exhibition.

We raised some queries in relation to two groups of items and we were told in no uncertain terms that they would not in any way amend the exhibition and they were shown.

KEVIN FEWSTER: I received a call from the office of the President of the Jewish Board of Deputies, who said that there was concern in the Jewish community about the Canberra exhibition and was what was going to be shown in Sydney.

I said I'd not seen the exhibition but I'd be very comfortable if he wished to come in and I would present to him the material that was going to be included in our exhibition, but I said in so doing I would require him to respect that that selection has been made by the museum in consultation with Mr Kazak and that I would not be changing the content of the exhibition.

JOHN STEWART: A peak ethnic advisory committee, the NSW Community Relations Commission, was also invited as an honest broker.

STEPHEN KERKYASHARIAN, CHAIRMAN, COMMUNITY RELATIONS COMMISSION: I was invited to attend a meeting where there were a number of people present.

And photographs were put on the table and we were all asked questions, in some cases I said that they might want to think about this poster again, but that's my personal opinion.

JOHN STEWART: But he will not outline his opinion, and to what degree his views reflect what was finally displayed.

STEPHEN KERKYASHARIAN: I expressed my views and said that some of those posters would have to be looked at again.

JOHN STEWART: And why was that?

STEPHEN KERKYASHARIAN: Because someone asked for my expert opinion and I gave my expert opinion.

JOHN STEWART: It's not the first time Jewish groups have tried to remove material from the exhibition.

The director of the Canberra Museum and Gallery has told Lateline that five months ago he was pressured to remove photographs and documents from the Canberra exhibition.

But the museum refused.