Arts and culture should be a beacon of humanity – not a cover for apartheid, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. Israel is an apartheid state. In the year it devastated Gaza under bombs, denied Covid vaccines to millions of Palestinians, and accelerated its ethnic cleansing in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Sydney Festival has decided to accept Israeli sponsorship. Tell the Festival directors to reject complicity with Israeli apartheid, take a stand for justice and human rights, and not ruin a major arts event.