Israel Nixes Einstein Show In China

Israel has canceled an Albert Einstein exhibit in China after officials demanded the removal of references to his being Jewish and a supporter of creating a Jewish state, an Israeli spokesman said Tuesday.

The incident adds to diplomatic strains that date back to Israel's decision two years ago to call off a deal to sell Beijing a sophisticated airborne radar system. China has also criticized recent Israeli attacks in Palestinian territories.

The Einstein exhibit was to open in Beijing in late September and travel to Shanghai, Guangzhou and other cities, according to the Israeli Embassy in Beijing. It consists of 30 posters reproducing photos, letters and documents about the physicist's life and scientific work.

"It was the Chinese Ministry of Culture's demand to omit or delete parts of the exhibition that deal with the Jewish origins and pro-Zionist attitude of Einstein and that he had been invited to be the president of Israel," said Amir Sagie, an embassy spokesman.

"These three themes are very important to the biography of Einstein and can't be changed."

Sagie said China's culture ministry didn't give a reason for its request.

Zhang Ling, an official of the Asian and African Department of the ministry's Foreign Cultural Exchange Bureau, said it had no immediate comment.

China has had diplomatic relations with Israel for a decade. Their growing business ties include Israeli weapons sales to Beijing, but China recently has been focused on building ties with Arab governments.

The Israeli newspaper Yediot Ahronot said China was trying to "de-Judaize Einstein." It said Beijing took the step "so as not to spark Arab anger."

Chinese-Israeli relations plunged in 2000 when Israel, under U.S. pressure, canceled the sale to Beijing of a Phalcon airborne radar system. Washington worried that it might endanger U.S. pilots if there were a conflict over Taiwan.

Israel reportedly agreed in February to pay China $350 million in damages, and its diplomats have been struggling to rebuild relations.

By Joe McDonald