Lahav Shani, from Ghent to Brussels: when must an artist answer for his country?

On 22 October 2023 in Tel Aviv, the musicians of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra played to an empty hall. On seats in the front rows were photographs of people taken hostage by Hamas on 7 October. Lahav Shani stood at the podium. The concert was broadcast live. The programme included the Israeli national anthem, a fanfare by Paul Ben-Haim and Beethoven’s Third Symphony, the Eroica ¹⁴.

Nearly two years later, the Festival of Flanders in Ghent dropped a concert Shani was to conduct. Its statement cited his connection to the Israel Philharmonic and said his position on the Israeli government was insufficiently clear. The objection to the portraits of the hostages arose in a different city a year later. This time, the venue stood by its invitation ²³⁴⁵.

Ghent cancels the concert. Brussels keeps it on the programme

On 10 September 2025, the Festival of Flanders announced a cancellation affecting an entire orchestra. Shani had been due to conduct the Munich Philharmonic in Ghent on 18 September. The festival acknowledged in its statement that he had spoken publicly for peace and reconciliation. It said, however, that because of his position at the head of the Israeli orchestra, it could not establish clearly enough where he stood in relation to the Israeli government, which the festival described as genocidal. It said it wanted to exclude partners who had not explicitly distanced themselves from that government. The statement made no mention of the 22 October 2023 concert ²³⁶.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever went to hear Shani and the Munich Philharmonic in Essen, Germany, on 13 September 2025. The festival board confirmed the cancellation on 15 September. An invitation to Berlin that day allowed the musicians to perform there. In his response, published on 16 September, Shani said he had been asked to make a political declaration despite the positions he had taken publicly. He spoke of the hostages, the suffering of civilians in Gaza and the need to end the war. He thanked the Belgian prime minister for coming to the concert ²³.

Rotterdam offers a specific point of comparison. On 1 March 2022, after the invasion of Ukraine, its philharmonic orchestra and the organisers of the festival named for Valery Gergiev broke ties with the Russian conductor. In 2014, Gergiev had signed an appeal supporting Russia’s annexation of Crimea. In 2022, the two organisations had asked him to distance himself publicly from Vladimir Putin’s actions in Ukraine. A conversation on 28 February had failed to resolve their disagreement. The remaining concerts were cancelled. On 11 September 2025, the same orchestra defended Shani, then its conductor. It recalled his commitment to peace and rejected the idea of associating an artist with his country’s policies solely on the grounds of his origins. Rotterdam was speaking as Shani’s employer. The decision to cancel was the Belgian festival’s ²⁶¹³.

In Brussels, the Centre for Fine Arts, known as Bozar, had also invited Shani to conduct the Munich Philharmonic. On 19 May 2026, its management set out in writing why the concert would go ahead. It condemned the war in Gaza and argued that in accepting an engagement to conduct a German orchestra, the musician was not representing the State of Israel. Boycott supporters took the opposite view: his position as music director of the Israel Philharmonic also carried weight when he appeared abroad with another ensemble ⁴⁵¹⁶.

It was in the Brussels controversy that the concert for the hostages resurfaced. On 23 September 2026, Israel Hayom and Radio Classique reported the argument advanced by the Hind Rajab Foundation ⁴¹⁷. In the foundation’s view, the programme and staging on 22 October 2023 had put Israeli suffering in the foreground while leaving that of Palestinians in Gaza out of the picture. Nothing in Ghent’s written decision establishes that this was its motive or that any festival demanded a second concert for Palestinians. In October 2026, Shani publicly denounced the suffering inflicted on Palestinians. Calls for a boycott continued. As of 9 November, Bozar’s concert on 24 November remained on the programme ²⁴⁵.

In Brooklyn and Albany, two literary events drop off the programme

On 20 August 2024 in Brooklyn, Jewish American writer Joshua Leifer arrived to present Tablets Shattered, a book about Jewish life in the United States. Rabbi Andy Bachman was to interview him at the Powerhouse Arena bookshop. A sign at the door announced that the event had been cancelled. An employee told Leifer that the shop did not want a Zionist on its stage. A recording heard by The Forward identifies the person she meant: the rabbi chosen to conduct the interview ⁷.

The owner, Daniel Power, repudiated his employee’s decision. Leifer, himself a critic of Israeli policy, argued that excluding Zionists indiscriminately amounted to antisemitism. On 26 August, the two men resumed their conversation at another Brooklyn venue, the Center for New Jewish Culture. Bachman later credited the owner with acknowledging the problem ⁷.

A month later, Jewish novelist Elisa Albert was due to moderate a discussion about coming-of-age stories on 21 September 2024 at the State University of New York at Albany. The deputy director of the New York State Writers Institute told her by email that two guests did not want to sit on a panel with a Zionist. Albert wanted the event to go ahead and regarded its cancellation as a concession to antisemitism. Four people had been due to take part. The Times Union also reported that a third guest withdrew amid the controversy ⁸.

The two writers to whom the email attributed the objection challenged that account. Aisha Abdel Gawad said she withdrew because of pieces Albert had published on reactions to the war. Lisa Ko said she expressed reservations about those writings but denied withdrawing from the panel. Both rejected a religious motive. On 26 September, the institute’s director apologised to the participants for his handling of the event. In Brooklyn there is a recording of the objection to the rabbi. In Albany there is an organiser’s account and differing testimony from those involved ⁷⁸.

On screen: a documentary reinstated in Toronto and a director who withdraws in Marseille

In August 2025, the Toronto International Film Festival withdrew its invitation to Canadian director Barry Avrich for The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue. The documentary tells how retired Israeli general Noam Tibon went to rescue his family during the attack of 7 October 2023. The festival cited security and the rights to use footage. Part of the dispute concerned material filmed by the attackers themselves. The filmmakers denounced the decision as censorship. Festival director Cameron Bailey disputed that accusation ⁹.

On 14 August 2025, Bailey and Avrich announced jointly that they had resolved the difficulties and the film would be included in the selection ¹⁸. It was screened in Toronto on 10 September. On 14 September it won the audience award for documentary. Here, the same institution withdrew and reinstated the invitation. The reasons cited for withdrawing it concerned the film and the conditions for screening it. The public record does not establish that the festival intended to exclude the filmmaker because of his origins ⁹.

In Marseille in June 2026, the dispute concerned Israeli director Nadav Lapid’s appearance at the international film festival known as FID. Lapid publicly opposes Benjamin Netanyahu’s policies. His film Yes challenges Israeli society in wartime. Festival director Tsveta Dobreva said she had invited him to sit on the jury on the strength of his filmmaking. Directors whose work had been selected asked for the invitation to be withdrawn. The festival and Lapid then considered dropping the jury role while keeping a screening of his film Policeman and a discussion of his book ¹⁰.

Filmmakers nevertheless withdrew their own work. Some objected to the Israel Film Fund’s part in financing Yes. Others criticised the prominence given to an Israeli director in an edition that sought to give Palestinian voices a hearing. Lapid told Le Monde he had agreed to withdraw to avoid putting FID in a difficult position. He thought the organisers should have done more to defend the invitation. Festival management expressed regret and in early June confirmed his withdrawal from the 7–12 July 2026 edition ¹⁰.

Jakarta and Eurovision: who can exclude a delegation?

In October 2025 Indonesia denied visas to the Israeli delegation for the World Artistic Gymnastics Championships in Jakarta. Indonesian authorities linked the decision to Israel’s offensive in Gaza. The six gymnasts were Artem Dolgopyat, Eyal Indig, Ron Pyatov, Lihie Raz, Yali Shoshani and Roni Shamay. Dolgopyat was the reigning world floor champion. He said he was shocked to lose the chance to defend his title. His federation took the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. On 14 October 2025, the court rejected both its requests for interim measures ¹⁹. The international federation pointed out that it had no power to issue Indonesian visas. The Israeli gymnasts missed the championships ¹¹.

The results of 23 October 2025 show who was able to compete at the same venue. Russia’s Angelina Melnikova won the women’s individual all-around under neutral status. American Leanne Wong came second and China’s Zhang Qingying third, both representing their countries. The results establish that they were admitted to Jakarta. They tell us nothing about any questions asked of them in private. Two authorities acted in different capacities. The international federation sets competitors’ status, while the Indonesian government decides who may enter its territory ¹¹¹².

At Eurovision, comparison with Russia yields a different answer. On 25 February 2022, the day after the invasion of Ukraine, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) excluded the Russian entry from the 2022 contest ²⁰. It cited the disrepute Russia’s presence would bring to the competition. On 6 May 2024, Deputy Director General Jean Philip De Tender explained on Swedish television why Israel could take part. The contestants are broadcasters. In his view, Israeli public broadcaster KAN met the EBU’s requirements. He noted that the Russian broadcasters subsequently lost their places in the Union as well ¹⁴.

On 16 May 2026 in Vienna, Noam Bettan performed Michelle for Israel. Five broadcasters had decided not to compete because the Israeli entry had been retained: those of Spain, Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Slovenia. Bettan heard boos and cheers in the hall. He finished second in the final, behind Bulgaria’s Dara. After the contest he said he had regarded it as a privilege to represent his country. The boycott had cost the competition five delegations ¹⁴¹⁵.

Chronology

• 2023-10-22 — In Tel Aviv, Lahav Shani conducts the Israel Philharmonic before portraits of the hostages ¹⁴.
• 2024-08-20 — The Leifer–Bachman event in Brooklyn is cancelled. The two men meet at another venue on 26 August ⁷.
• 2024-09-21 — The panel Elisa Albert was due to moderate at the Albany book festival does not take place ⁸.
• 2025-08-14 — The Toronto festival and Barry Avrich jointly announce the reinstatement of his documentary ⁹¹⁸.
• 2025-09-10 — Ghent announces the cancellation of the Munich Philharmonic’s concert set for 18 September ²³⁶.
• 2025-10-14 — The Israeli gymnasts’ urgent applications fail ahead of the Jakarta world championships ¹¹¹⁹.
• 2026-05-16 — In Vienna, Israel comes second at Eurovision despite a boycott by five broadcasters ¹⁵.
• 2026-06-06 — In Marseille, Le Monde reports that Nadav Lapid has withdrawn from FID ¹⁰.
• 2026-09-23 — In Brussels, the debate over Shani’s invitation reaches back to his concert of 22 October 2023 ⁴¹⁷.

Sources

1. Jessica Steinberg, « Israel Philharmonic pivots to performances for evacuees and injured », The Times of Israel, 12 novembre 2023, https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-philharmonic-pivots-to-performances-for-evacuees-and-injured/amp/
2. Festival de Flandre à Gand, « Munich Philharmonic & Lisa Batiashvili », archive officielle du programme, annulation annoncée le 10 septembre 2025, https://www.gentfestival.be/en/event/munich-philharmonic
3. Belga, « Lahav Shani on cancelled Ghent concert: ‘I have not abandoned my human values’ », Belga News Agency, 17 septembre 2025, https://www.belganewsagency.eu/lahav-shani-on-cancelled-ghent-concert-i-have-not-abandoned-my-human-values
4. Nissan Strauchler, « הסערה בבלגיה סביב המנצח הישראלי: הקריאות לבטל את הקונצרט מתגברות », Israel Hayom, 23 septembre 2026, https://www.israelhayom.co.il/news/world-news/europe/article/21472513
5. BRUZZ, « Israëlische dirigent Lahav Shani spreekt zich voor het eerst uit, maar boycotoproep blijft », BRUZZ, déclarations de Bozar et des partisans du boycott, 23 octobre 2026, https://www.bruzz.be/select/muziek/israelische-dirigent-lahav-shani-spreekt-zich-voor-het-eerst-uit-maar-boycotoproep-blijft-2026-10-23
6. Orchestre philharmonique de Rotterdam, « Statement RPhO – Lahav Shani Festival van Vlaanderen », communiqué, 11 septembre 2025, https://www.rotterdamsphilharmonisch.nl/en/the-orchestra/news-wonder/statement-rpho-lahav-shani-festival-van-vlaanderen
7. Beth Harpaz, « Sellout crowd, spike in sales for author whose talk was canceled over pro-Israel moderator », The Forward, 27 août 2024, https://forward.com/fast-forward/648201/joshua-leifer-book-event-brooklyn-israel-tablets-shattered/
8. Rédaction du Times Union, « Writers Institute issues apology for handling of scrapped panel », Times Union d’Albany, 26 septembre 2024, https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/writers-institute-issues-apology-handling-19795434.php
9. Nicole Thompson, « ‘The Road Between Us’ Oct. 7 film wins TIFF documentary People’s Choice Award », La Presse canadienne, via CityNews Toronto, 14 septembre 2025, https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/09/14/the-road-between-us-oct-7-film-wins-tiff-documentary-peoples-choice-award/
10. Mathieu Macheret, « Le cinéaste israélien Nadav Lapid, visé par une polémique, renonce à participer au festival FID Marseille », Le Monde, 6 juin 2026, mis à jour le 9 juin, https://www.lemonde.fr/culture/article/2026/06/06/le-cineaste-israelien-nadav-lapid-vise-par-une-polemique-renonce-a-participer-au-festival-fid-marseille_6698139_3246.html
11. BBC Sport, « Israelis denied visas for World Championships », BBC, 14 octobre 2025, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/gymnastics/articles/c1m30mj59yko
12. Christian Ivanov, « Melnikova captures second World all-around title », International Gymnast, 23 octobre 2025, https://www.intlgymnast.com/news/melnikova-captures-second-world-all-around-title/
13. Dutch News, « Rotterdam Philharmonic cuts ties with Russian conductor Valery Gergiev », Dutch News, 1er mars 2022, https://www.dutchnews.nl/2022/03/rotterdam-philharmonic-cuts-ties-with-russian-conductor-valeri-gergiev/
14. SVT Nyheter, « Eurovision: Därför får Israel men inte Ryssland tävla », entretien avec Jean Philip De Tender, directeur général adjoint de l’UER, 6 mai 2024, https://www.svt.se/kultur/eurovision-darfor-far-israel-men-inte-ryssland-tavla?lokalmeny=1
15. Nathan Rennolds, « Noam Bettan thanks supporters after controversial Eurovision second place », Euronews, 17 mai 2026, https://www.euronews.com/2026/05/17/noam-bettan-thanks-supporters-after-controversial-eurovision-second-place
16. Bozar, prise de position du 19 mai 2026, https://www.bozar.be/en/watch-read-listen/plea-nuance
17. Radio Classique, 23 septembre 2026, https://www.radioclassique.fr/classique/concerts-festivals/belgique-le-chef-israelien-lahav-shani-au-coeur-dune-polemique-un-an-apres-lannulation-de-son-concert-a-gand/
18. Presse Canadienne, déclaration du 14 août 2025, https://toronto.citynews.ca/2025/08/14/tiff-to-screen-oct-7-doc-the-road-between-us-after-reaching-resolution-with-filmmaker/
19. TAS, ordonnance du 14 octobre 2025, https://www.tas-cas.org/generated/assets/lists/dceab111-07bc-435f-b5f9-de88eff9db72/CAS_Media_Release_11830_11834.pdf
20. UER, décision du 25 février 2022, https://www.ebu.ch/news/2022/02/ebu-statement-on-russia-in-the-eurovision-song-contest-2022

The story in 30 seconds

Read the main facts at a glance and share the link.

1. On 22 Oct 2023 Shani led the Israel Philharmonic before portraits of the hostages. In Sept 2025 Flanders Festival cancelled his concert with Munich’s orchestra.
2. In September 2026, a foundation criticised the 2023 tribute. In Brussels, Bozar kept Shani on the bill for 24 November.
3. In October 2025 Indonesia denied Israeli gymnasts visas. At the same world championships, Russia’s Angelina Melnikova competed as an individual neutral athlete.

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