Overview

• Prime Minister Bart De Wever traveled to Essen on Saturday to hear the Munich Philharmonic under Lahav Shani and to denounce the Ghent festival’s decision.
• Flanders Festival Ghent canceled the Sept. 18 concert, saying Shani had not “unequivocally” distanced himself from Israel’s government and citing his leadership role at the Israel Philharmonic.
• Israel’s ambassador to Belgium labeled the move discriminatory and antisemitic, and Friedrich Merz publicly thanked De Wever for his show of solidarity.
• The Berlin Philharmonic invited Shani and the Munich orchestra to perform in Berlin on Monday, a step the German government praised as a supportive signal.
• Shani, 36, is due to become the Munich Philharmonic’s chief conductor in the 2026/27 season and currently serves as music director of the Israel Philharmonic.