11h ago

Music festival in Belgium cancels concert over Israeli conductor

www.aljazeera.com

Flanders Festival Ghent says it made decision over lack of ‘clarity’ about incoming conductor Lahav Shani’s views.

While Shani had spoken in favour of “peace and reconciliation” in the past, his attitude towards the “genocidal regime in Tel Aviv” was unclear given his role as the chief conductor of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, the festival organisers said.

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12h ago

Music festival in Belgium cancels concert over Israeli conductor

www.aljazeera.com /news/2025/9/11/music-festival-in-belgium-cancels-concert-over-israeli-conductor

88 comments

Is everybody arguing with the same person in here? lol
Good for them. They didn't want to give a stage to an active nazi hate group member.
These nazi fucks are everywhere, I'm glad someone is trying to keep them away from public speaking opportunities to spread their religious hate.
What kind of music festival has a conductor?
- It's an orchestra.
It seems that every Jewish person is now expected to pass an arbitrary moral purity test in order to participate in polite society.
- Why would non Israeli Jews have to denounce the Israeli genocide of the Palestinians?
  The conductor was Israeli.
- not supporting a genocide is arbitrary?
- Every Israeli person maybe, not every Jewish person, they don't all live in one small part of the world, גדליה.
  
  what? am i supposed to take responsibility for my government? how are you keepin' up with that?
- Well, considering Israelis aren't going to receive any justice otherwise, social justice is the next best option.
  They only have themselves to blame.
- Do you deny the genocide in Gaza?
- Doesn't seem that difficult of a test to pass.
  Denouncing genocide is pretty easy to do.
  Put another way: if he did denounce it, would he still be leading the Israeli orchestra? Doubtful.
- He is an Israeli citizen and music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. I'd say he can be seen as representing Israel (Israel, not necessarily the current regime) on a cultural level. Russian athletes can be barred from international events - why is it too much to ask to distance himself from the atrocities in Palestine?
  
  People think this is a personal attack. It's not (unless this guy actively supports his government). It's sad that people suffer because of their government actions? Yes. Is it necessary? As a symbolic act of protest against a regime you don't support, also yes.
  
  Russian athletes are allowed to compete as neutrals in international events, as long as they do not openly endorse the war in Ukraine.
  
  Look at how they never answer your question. It's incredible how there is people still defend israrl in anyway or shape
  
  The article says that he has previously spoken out in favor of peace and reconciliation. Did you read it?
- I see things differently. Condemning genocide is not an arbitrary test related moral purity.
  And like Jewish Voice for Peace say:
  Never Again For Anyone
  as well as
  Not in our name
  
  I remember liberals being super angry about conservatives requiring all Muslims to "condemn terrorism."
  
  You are missing the point. When did he say that he doesn't condemn genocide?
- https://theonion.com/dying-gazans-criticized-for-not-using-last-words-to-con-1850925657/
- Why are you assuming the religiosity of an Israeli person?
  
  He is literally Jewish.
  I have never heard of this type of moral panic over a Palestinian Israeli, or a Druze Israeli for example. It doesn't seem to be about just citizenship.
- Sorry sir your victim card has expired.
  
  What a disgusting statement, when someone who has spoken up for peace and reconciliation is banned from a European country based on the city where he was born and his ethnicity. It wouldn't be right for someone from China, it wouldn't be right for someone from Syria, it wouldn't be right in ANY circumstance.
  
  How long does that take?
- Would be true if it was a non jewish israeli
- The Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra performs with the IDF Orchestra.
- Soon they'll have to wear special armbands and the idiots captured by Iranian propaganda still won't pull their heads out of their asses.

88 comments