French nix of Tel Aviv students echoes Benzion Netanyahu 1942 episode

The world-famous Louvre art museum stands accused of discriminating against Israeli students, after being exposed by some clever amateur investigative journalism that echoes a 1940s incident involving the father of Israel’s current prime minister.

The episode began last month when Prof. Sefy Hendler, who teaches art history at Tel Aviv University, contacted the Louvre’s reservation department to arrange tours for 12 of his students during their trip to Paris in late June. Hendler proposed three different dates that his students would be available, but was turned down for all three.

“It surprised me that a place that receives nine million visitors a year didn’t find room for us — even though we asked to tour in the middle of the week,” Hendler told the Israeli newspaper Ha’aretz.

So Hendler tried again shortly afterwards, this time identifying himself not as a faculty member at Tel Aviv University, but claiming affiliation with schools in Italy and Abu Dhabi. This time the Louvre suddenly had space available—on one of the same dates that were supposedly booked solid when Hendler had identified himself as Israeli.

The same thing happened when Hendler tried to book tours for his students at the Sainte-Chappele, a 13th-century royal chapel in central Paris that is famous for its Gothic architecture and stained-glass windows.

Spokespeople for the Louvre blamed it all on a computer error. The Sainte-Chappele administration has admitted “irregularities” in the handling of the Tel Aviv students, but would not concede discrimination. Francois Heilbronn, president of the French Friends of Tel Aviv University, has rejected the Louvre’s explanation, as has Prof. Hendler, who said, “It’s clear to me that when you say no to Israelis, it’s a discriminatory and racist act.”