Ahmad was among a group of prominent writers and artists who met with festival director Olivia Ansell,board chair David Kirk and chief executive Chris Tooher last week to demand the festival cut ties with the Israeli embassy.
In a letter to the board,the coalition said the partnership with Israel made the festival “unsafe” for people of Arab background.
“Sydney Festival’s partnership with the Embassy of Israel and the use of the Israeli Government Ministry of Foreign Affairs logo in festival promotional material creates a culturally unsafe environment for artists and festival attendees of Arab background,particularly those who are Palestinian,” it read.
The letter went on to demand the festival cut all ties with the Israeli Embassy and remove logos from festival literature.
On Monday,the board issued a written response to the coalition,which includes the Arab Australian Federation,Greens for Palestine and Jews Against the Occupation Sydney.
“We deeply appreciate your time and energy in bringing this issue to our attention,” said the letter signed by Kirk. “Your detailed presentations – as well as the personal accounts shared – have been generous,educational and informative,and set in motion important dialogue within the Sydney Festival itself.”