The director of the British Museum has also posted a defense of the decision to postpone the lecture:
Sunday Times – Dr Nicholas Cullinan OBE
Critics have framed the postponement, as a retreat from free speech. That misunderstands both the decision and the principle at stake. Freedom of expression does not require institutions to provide a platform for disruption. Nor does it require organisers to knowingly place speakers, audiences or visitors in circumstances where a legitimate event cannot proceed safely and respectfully.The Armstrong Institute of Biblical Archaeology has posted an essay on the situation and collects other responses:
The Attack on the British Museum and Biblical Archaeology. Ancient Israel and Judah—too controversial for modern-day London (Richard Palmer and Christopher Eames)
A postponed lunchtime lecture at the British Museum on the history of ancient Israel and Judah might seem like a minor episode. But it is only the latest incident among many in the ongoing war for history and truth. And for a renowned establishment such as the British Museum—“the world’s greatest temple of history,” in the words of Montefiore—“this matters.”Then there was this disturbing incident on Saturday 30 November:
British Museum evacuated after ‘suspicious device’ found days after Jewish event postponed. Police were called to the museum at around 2.50pm and between 12,000 and 16,000 visitors were evacuated as a precaution (ADAM DECKER, Jewish News).
The British Museum was evacuated on Saturday after staff discovered a suspicious device in a visitor toilet and received what it described as “malicious communications”, just days after the institution faced criticism for postponing a Jewish Culture Month lecture on ancient Israel over security concerns.Whatever was in the toilet turned out to be "non-suspicious." It may be tempting to connect this incident with the canceled lecture, but we really don't know what was going on and we shouldn't jump to conclusions. The museum has declined to comment on the nature of the "malicious communications." I cannot find any indication that the police have released any information about them.
Background here.
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