Open University Reverses UKLFI-Influenced ‘Ancient Palestine’ Ban

The Open University (OU) has seemingly undone a prior pledge to the pro-Israel group UK Lawyers for Israel (UKLFI) regarding the use of the term “ancient Palestine,” as reported by Novara Media. This reversal follows a dispute over the term’s inclusion in academic materials.

UKLFI’s Complaint and the Module Controversy

In November 2025, UKLFI wrote to the OU expressing concerns that the term “ancient Palestine” might foster a “hostile or offensive learning environment for Jewish and Israeli students.” The group argued the term could contradict historical facts, asserting that “Palestine” was not applied to the region until over a century after the Virgin Mary’s lifetime, when Roman Emperor Hadrian rebranded it as “Syria Palaestina.”

As an example, a humanities module at the OU had previously referenced the Virgin Mary’s birthplace as “ancient Palestine” and included a map labeled “Map of Ancient Palestine.” This prompted UKLFI to challenge the terminology, claiming it might breach the Equality Act.

University’s Response and the Open Letter

On 18 December, Adrienne Scullion, head of the OU’s faculty of arts and social sciences, replied to UKLFI, acknowledging the term had become “problematic” since its original use in 2018. She stated the OU would no longer employ the term in future materials and would provide context in existing ones for current students.

However, an open letter signed by over 600 academics and public figures earlier this year criticized the OU’s commitment to UKLFI. The letter highlighted risks of the policy contradicting the OU’s statutory obligations under the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023. It also accused the university of enabling disinformation and erasing Palestine from historical narratives.

“There is a significant risk that these commitments could be interpreted as inconsistent with the OU’s statutory duties under the HEFSA.”

The letter was backed by notable historians, including Israeli scholars Ilan Pappe and Avi Shlaim, as well as Palestinian academics Rashid Khalidi and Nur Masalha. The University and College Union branch of the OU endorsed the document.

Contradictions and Further Controversies

Following the OU’s reversal, a staff member told Novara Media that the recent statement contradicted previous promises made to UKLFI. They claimed the term “ancient Palestine” should still be contextualized, as the December letter had already addressed its problematic usage.

UKLFI’s influence extends beyond the OU. Last month, it was reported that Encyclopaedia Britannica had revised entries in Britannica Kids, removing the term from maps of the region under pressure from the group. Earlier this year, the British Museum faced criticism for removing “Palestine” from exhibits on ancient Egypt and the Phoenicians. While the museum denied this was due to UKLFI complaints, the incident sparked debate over the term’s historical accuracy.

Academics have defended the use of “ancient Palestine,” emphasizing its validity in describing the region during antiquity. Marchella Ward, a lecturer in classical studies at the OU, stated: “I use the term ‘ancient Palestine’ frequently in my own research and will continue to do so.” She called claims of the term being late or illegitimate a “lie” aimed at “the erasure of Palestinians and in support of Israel’s ongoing genocide against them.”