The music festival cancels the performance led by an Israeli conductor on the war in Gaza

European politicians condemn the decision of a Belgian classical music festival to cancel an upcoming performance led by an Israeli conductor due to the concerns about the place he stands on the war in Gaza.

The organizers of the Ghent Festival Festival announced on Wednesday that they canceled a performance by the Munich Philharmonic Orchestra scheduled for September 18. They cited concerns about the future conductor of the orchestra, Lahav Shani.

Shani, who was born in Tel Aviv, is the director of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra. Although he was not ready to take over the Munich Philharmonic before next year, he had to perform the performance in Ghent, Belgium.

The festival organizers said they had made the decision even if Shani had already spoken “in favor of peace and reconciliation”.

“In the light of his role as chief conductor of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, we are unable to give sufficient clarity on his attitude towards the genocidal regime of Tel Aviv,” said the organizers in a statement.

The declaration continued by saying that the festival chose not to collaborate with partners “who did not move unequivocally from this regime”.

The festival, a three -week affair with classical music, attracts 50,000 people each year. The performance of Munich Philharmonic was to be one of the “artistic strengths” of the festival before the cancellation of the organizers, said the organizers.

Shani did not respond to the CBC’s request for comments, but the Israeli Philharmonic condemned this decision.

“In the world of music and art, there is simply no room to withdraw an invitation based on its place of origin,” said the orchestra a declaration.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart de Wever condemned the decision in a position on social networks, saying that he had inflicted “serious damage” on the reputation of his country.

“Imposing a professional ban on someone only because of their origin is both reckless and irresponsible”, it wrote.

Matthias Diependele, the Minister-President of the Flanders region, also denounced the cancellation, claiming that art should be used to “build bridges” rather than dividing people.

“I somewhat understand that the organization wanted to send a signal, but there are many other ways to respond to this horror. Such a reaction or signal should never be done to the detriment of an individual, in this case an international renowned conductor”, Diepenelelele Written on x.

German officials have also weighed. Markus Blume, Minister of State Bavarian for Sciences and Arts, called the decision “shameful, anti-cultural and simply a scandal”, while Wolfram Weimer, the German Commissioner for Culture and the Media, labeled “Pure anti -Semitism.”

A petition By musicians in Europe, requiring the cancellation of being reversed has collected more than 11,000 signatures at the time of publication.

The artistic director of the festival defended the decision in New York TimesSaying that the organizers had tried to clarify Shani’s beliefs on the current war without success. He also said that the decision was “in no way” motivated by anti -Semitism.

“We do not know where he is in this conflict, and the genocide leaves, in our opinion, no place for ambiguity,” he told the newspaper. “We have not proceeded lightly.”

CBC News contacted the festival representatives but did not hear the publication at the time.

While the number of deaths in Gaza – now exceeding 64,000 – develops and the War of Israel -Hamas approaches its second anniversary, the artists sought to condemn or to distant those whom they consider as accomplices of the attacks against the Palestinians.

Various promises and petitions have circulated in the arts world in response to the conflict, including one this week signed by more than 4,000 professionals in the film industry who have committed to working with entities which, according to them, are “involved in genocide and apartheid against the Palestinian people”.

Earlier this year, artists Boycotté A main electronic music festival Due to alleged ties between his parent company, KKR, and Israel. A number of artists also said that they will not work in Israel For now.