Israel's Culture Minister wanted to cut the budget of Haifa Art Museum over the McJesus display, the Deputy AG said it's not legal to censure art

Deputy Attorney General Dina Zilber on Tuesday informed Culture Minister Miri Regev that the latter does not have the legal authority to withhold state funds from a museum in Haifa over its display of a controversial exhibit depicting Ronald McDonald as Jesus on the cross.

The Haifa Museum's display of the "McJesus" piece has drawn the ire of Arab Christians, hundreds of whom clashed with police outside the museum last week during a demonstration calling for the sculpture's removal.

Amid the uproar, Miri Regev sent a letter to the Haifa Museum's director calling for "McJesus" to be taken down and warning that the institution could lose state funding under the 1985 Budgetary Principles Law.

In her letter to Haifa Museum head Nissim Tal, Regev said that "disrespect of religious symbols... as an act of artistic protest is illegitimate."

Deputy AG Dina Zilber wrote to the minister, "The existing legal framework does not allow for withholding funding in the arts due to the content of works on display at cultural institutions that are supported [by the state], or interfering in displayed content at a cultural institution because of the fact that it is supported by the state".

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The "McJesus," which was sculpted by artist Jani Leinonen, from Finland, and depicts a crucified Ronald McDonald, went on display in August as part of Haifa Museum's "Sacred Goods" exhibit.

The show also features a number of other pieces depicting Jesus, including one of him as a "Ken" doll, as well as imagery from other religions.

Leinonen has also called for the piece to be removed because of his support for the boycott movement against Israel.

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Photos: Artist Jani Leinonen from Finland; The controversial display at the Haifa Art Museum; Minister Miri Regec (R) and Deputy Attorny General Dina Zilber

Video: Local Arabs (Chrisitians) protesting last week infront of the Haifa Art Museum over the display