The board of directors of the Ghent Festival of Flanders has officially canceled the Munich Philharmonic concert featuring Israeli conductor Lahav Shani, following a decision made on Monday night, reports 24brussels.
The cancellation, which was announced last week, ignited widespread criticism both domestically and internationally. Critics, including Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, condemned the move as antisemitic, while supporters argued that Shani’s failure to denounce the ongoing conflict in the Gaza Strip raised ethical questions.
In its statement, the festival’s board insisted that the decision was not made out of prejudice. “The decision was in no way based on Shani’s origins or nationality, nor was his personal integrity questioned,” they stated. The board expressed regret over the ensuing commotion and controversy but confirmed that the concert, scheduled for Thursday, will not be held. They emphasized their commitment to “continue to focus on artistic connection and inclusion” in future programming.
The backdrop to this cancellation includes concerns regarding potential protests from pro-Palestine groups. Christoph D’Haese, a right-wing member of the board affiliated with Prime Minister De Wever’s party, announced that he would resign if the cancellation was finalized.
