Overview

• Flanders Festival Ghent canceled the Munich Philharmonic’s Sept. 18 concert, saying it lacked sufficient clarity on incoming conductor Lahav Shani’s stance toward Israel and citing a need to preserve safety and serenity.
• The festival’s statement called Israel’s government a “genocidal regime,” said the move aligned with local cultural-sector calls to avoid partners who have not distanced themselves, and rejected accusations of antisemitism.
• Germany’s culture chief labeled the decision “pure antisemitism,” the German embassy in Brussels halted cooperation with the festival, and officials arranged for the orchestra to perform in Berlin on Monday.
• Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever condemned the cancellation as antisemitic and criticized the demand for a written political statement from Shani, while Foreign Minister Maxime Prévot called the move excessive.
• The Munich Philharmonic and the City of Munich decried collective punishment of Israeli artists; Israel’s diplomats called the decision racist, and musicians led by Mahan Esfahani launched a petition that drew thousands of signatures.