More than 20 acts have boycotted the 2022 Sydney festival over a sponsorship deal with the Israeli embassy.

Israeli choreographer Ohad Naharin and Tel Aviv’s Batsheva Dance Company’s work is being funded by a $20,000 grant from the Embassy of Israel in Canberra.

Sydney Festival Director Olivia Ansell told Joe Hildebrand they’re “disappointed” artists have chosen to withdraw.

“We still have 800 artists in the Sydney Festival.”

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Creative Community for Peace Director Ari Ingel told Chris O’Keefe the boycott movement isn’t about peace.

“It’s really [about] the elimination and dismantling of Israel,” he said. “What we want to make sure is that a lot of their claims do not go unchecked.

“When you start singling out the only Jewish state, that becomes a problem.”

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Image: Getty