Israeli singer’s Paris show moved to new venue after political pressure

A concert scheduled for October 25 in northern Paris by Israeli singer and actress Liraz Charhi was canceled by the planned venue, FGO-Barbara.

The venue canceled on October 7, writing on its Facebook page that the “decision, difficult but thoughtful, follows a number of elements that today do not allow us to maintain the event in conditions aligned with our values and commitments.”

The management of the venue, which is owned by the City of Paris, later apologized for the decision, saying it had been “swept away by pressure and emotion,” according to a statement sent to AFP.

In the statement, the FGO-Barbara management acknowledged the “strong reactions” triggered by its decision and issued an apology.

“We sincerely apologize for having caused discord in an international context that is already extremely divisive, marked by massive violence, deep injustices, and violations of human rights,” the venue’s wrote.

In its statement, the FGO-Barbara management also said it had “re-established a calm dialogue” with Charhi.

Taking to social media, Charhi initially apologized to her fans for the cancellation.

“To everyone who bought tickets, made travel and hotel arrangements and planned to share that night with me, I’m so sorry. You will be so missed,” said Charhi. “But please know this: nothing will ever come between me and my fans. My art, my music, and you, are my heart.”

“In times when some try to divide us, I will always choose to unite,” added Charhi. “Through music, we will continue to create joy, connection, and unforgettable memories together.”

She added that she has missed performing, and stated that she has been canceled repeatedly over the last two years because she is Israeli.

A day later, Charhi posted that an online petition signed by nearly 2,000 people denouncing what it called the “censorship” and “boycott” of her due to her nationality led to securing a new venue in Paris.

She has been rescheduled to perform at another Paris venue, Le Café de la Danse, on October 25.

Meanwhile, in Malmo, Sweden, organizers of the Jewish International Film Festival, JIFF, are floundering as they seek a venue for screening their program, now planned for early December.

Ola Tedin, the festival director and co-founder, wrote that the organization has been stonewalled by all commercial and arthouse cinemas in the city. Organizers found a theater in August, but the owner later backed out, citing safety concerns for its staff and audience.

The festival is part of the yearlong, nationwide celebration for 250 years of Jewish life in Sweden, and includes films previously screened in Berlin, Toronto, and other film festivals.

The board of JIFF sees no other option than to postpone the event, originally scheduled for November 29, moving it to December 2 in the hopes they’ll find another venue.

Malmo hosts several internationally acclaimed film festivals such as Nordic Panorama and MAFF, one of the largest Arab film events outside the Middle East, noted Tedin.