A major Belgian music festival has cancelled a concert by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra over concerns about its incoming Israeli conductor’s stance on the war in Gaza. The Flanders Festival Ghent said the September 18 performance was dropped due to a lack of clarity about Lahav Shani’s position.
Shani, who also serves as chief conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, has previously spoken in favour of peace, but organisers said he had not distanced himself from what they described as the “genocidal regime in Tel Aviv.” They added the decision was taken to avoid fuelling tensions in Belgian society.
Also Read: Belgian Foreign Minister Condemns Israeli Actions in Gaza, Calls for Sanctions
The Munich Philharmonic said it was “appalled” by the move, while Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prevot cautioned against conflating Israeli identity with the policies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. Germany’s culture minister Wolfram Weimer condemned the cancellation, calling it “blatant antisemitism.”
The dispute comes as the war in Gaza continues, with Palestinian officials reporting more than 64,000 people killed since Israel launched its campaign following the Hamas attacks of October 7, 2023.
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