The Bayeux Tapestry, damaged heritage in Iran, Tschabalala Self’s Trafalgar Square sculpture—podcast
We take a look at the celebrated embroidery as it goes on view at the British Museum, speak to our reporter Sarvy Geranpayeh about the efforts to protect important sites in Iran and hear from Self about her Fourth Plinth commission
Igor Tulchinsky, a billionaire with ties to the British Museum's Bayeux Tapestry exhibition, has also funded a community centre in Efrat, an illegal Israeli settlement in the West Bank. The centre, located in the Mondlak Center, was unveiled in November 2025 and serves as a "therapy yurt" for Israeli soldiers who fought in Gaza.
Despite being built on occupied Palestinian land, Tulchinsky described the yurt as "Israel's inner Iron Dome" during its inauguration. Efrat, home to around 12,000 Israeli settlers, is situated 12km southeast of Jerusalem and is considered the capital of the Gush Etzion bloc of settlements. Tulchinsky is reported to have sponsored the facility to honor "Israel's brave warriors and their families."
The Efrat Development Foundation, which manages the centre, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the social, cultural, and physical development of the settlement. The nature and extent of Tulchinsky's support for the community centre remain unclear, as Middle East Eye received no response to requests for comment.
Written by urgent.news from Middle East Eye's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
- Igor Tulchinsky: Sponsor of British Museum Bayeux Tapestry exhibition funded community centre in West Bank settlement middleeasteye.net
- Bayeux Tapestry exhibition at British Museum opens lemonde.fr
- Natural History Museum opens 64th mushroom exhibition news.err.ee
- Unstitching the 1,000-Year-Old Story of the Bayeux Tapestry nytimes.com
- Portrait of Bayeux Tapestry exhibition sponsor goes on view at British Museum amid scrutiny over ties to IDF theartnewspaper.com
