From the Liveblog of
Friday, September 12, 2025
Belgian PM: Festival’s decision to disinvite Israeli conductor is ‘reckless and irresponsible’
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Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever slams as “reckless and irresponsible” a decision by a music festival in Flanders to disinvite a German orchestra over concerns about its Israeli conductor, noting that the move has been called antisemitic.
The Israel Philharmonic and Germany, as well as Belgium’s foreign minister, have already criticized the cancellation of the planned performance at the Flanders Festival Ghent by the Munich Philharmonic, led by its future chief conductor, Israeli Lahav Shani.
Organizers said Wednesday they had decided to scrap the performance because Shani had not “unequivocally” distanced himself from Israel’s government, whose ongoing war in Gaza has triggered international uproar.
De Wever says the festival’s decision “has rightfully provoked great consternation and has been characterized as antisemitic.”
“To impose a professional ban on someone solely because of their origin is both reckless and irresponsible,” De Wever writes on X.
“I deeply regret the festival’s decision, which has inflicted severe damage on the reputation of our country.”
Shani, who officially takes over as conductor of the Munich orchestra for the 2026-27 season, is currently music director of the Israel Philharmonic.
The Times of Israel Community.