German orchestra performance in Belgium canceled due to its Israeli conductor

SANAA, Sept. 11 (YPA) – Organizers of a Belgian festival announced the cancellation of a performance by a prominent German orchestra because of its Israeli conductor, sparking an angry reaction from Berlin.

The Munich Philharmonic Orchestra was scheduled to perform on September 18 at the Flanders Festival Ghent.

Lahav Shani will conduct the Munich Philharmonic in the 2026/2027 season and also serves as music director of the Israeli Philharmonic Orchestra, according to Agence France-Presse.

Festival organizers said they were unable to adequately clarify his position on Israel, whose ongoing operations as part of the war against the Palestinian movement Hamas in Gaza have drawn widespread international criticism.

“We have chosen to refrain from cooperating with partners that have not categorically distanced themselves from that regime,” the organizers said in a statement, noting that Shani “advocated for peace and reconciliation several times in the past.”