The historic first Israeli art exhibition in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is facing a boycott campaign from the BDS movement, which seeks to delegitimize Israel through pressuring various international groups and artists to boycott the Jewish State.

“Abyss of Bliss” is currently open and runs until May 20 at Oblong Contemporary Art Gallery in Dubai. Its stated purpose is to honor “the occasion of the peace agreement between the UAE and Israel,” referring to the UAE’s normalization deal with Israel signed last year as part of the Abraham Accords.

The exhibit features three Israeli artists, Ariela Wertheimer, Keren Shpilsher and Yinon Gal-On, with a theme of the “concept of water.” 10 percent of the profits will be donated to the Emirates Red Crescent.

In an Arabic press release, the Palestinian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel asked the public not to attend the show, accusing the gallery of using art to normalize “colonialism and repression.”

The group further claimed that the cultural and sports exchanges between Israel and the UAE are really a secret cover for a “security and military alliance” which will bring “destruction and oppression to the nations of the region.”

Replying to these accusations, the Oblong gallery’s co-founder Paola Marucci said in an interview with Hyperallergic that the intent of the exhibition was to “create bridges and no walls.”

“For us, artists are all the same. The only difference between the artists is their artistic expression, not their nationality. I personally believe that art has a universal language,” Marucci said.