A classical music festival in Belgium has cancelled a planned performance from Germany’s Munich Philharmonic Orchestra due to the fact that its conductor is Israeli.
Tel-Aviv born Lahav Shani, who is also the music director of the Israel Philharmonic, was due to take to the stage at the Flanders Festival Ghent on September 18.
However, on Wednesday, the festival’s organisers announced the cancellation, saying that the Bavaria-based group had been “unable to provide sufficient clarity about his attitude” towards the current Israeli government and its actions in Gaza.
"We have chosen to refrain from collaboration with partners who have not distanced themselves unequivocally from that regime,” they added.
A spokesperson for the festival said: “The decision has been made on the basis of our deepest conviction that music should be a source of connection and reconciliation.
"Given the inhumanity of the current situation, which is also leading to emotional reactions in our own society, we believe it is undesirable to allow this concert to go ahead.
"We have chosen to maintain the serenity of our festival and safeguard the concert experience for our visitors and musicians.”
German Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer has criticised the ban, describing it as a “disgrace for Europe”.
Weimer said: “Under the guise of supposed criticism of Israel, a cultural boycott is being carried out here.”
Likewise, Belgian Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot called the cancellation “excessive”.
Prévot told local radio station RTBF: “We must not confuse the Jewish community and Israelis with Netanyahu’s policies.”
And a spokesperson for the City of Munich said the local government was “appalled by this decision”.
"In both his artistic work and personal conduct, Lahav Shani stands for dialogue, humanism, and mutual understanding.
“We firmly reject the practice of placing Israeli artists under general suspicion and subjecting them to collective punishment.
“Excluding individuals from the stage, the concert hall, or other public venues based on their ethnic origin or religious affiliation constitutes an attack on fundamental European and democratic values.”
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