Overview

• Flanders Festival Ghent scrapped the 18 September performance, saying it could not ensure clarity about Lahav Shani’s position toward what it called a “genocidal regime” in Tel Aviv.
• The festival said the decision followed appeals from Gent’s culture minister, city council and cultural sector to avoid partners who do not explicitly distance themselves from Israel’s government.
• German officials condemned the move as antisemitic, with Culture State Minister Wolfram Weimer calling it a “shame for Europe” and vowing to take the issue into European cultural policy forums.
• Jewish leaders and Israel’s ambassador also rebuked the cancellation, with Felix Klein, Charlotte Knobloch and Josef Schuster denouncing it as discriminatory and Ron Prosor calling it “pure antisemitism” and an attack on artistic freedom.
• The City of Munich and the orchestra voiced outrage and backed Shani, who heads the Israel Philharmonic and is set to become the Munich orchestra’s chief conductor in September 2026.