Paris Police Defend Decision to Allow Concert by Pro-Netanyahu Singer
PARIS - French police headquarters confirmed Sunday, October 10, 2025, that a heightened security plan will be implemented for an upcoming concert in Paris by Disturbed frontman David Draiman, despite calls for its cancellation due to the singer’s outspoken support for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The decision follows debate over whether Draiman’s vocal stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict warrants prohibiting his performance under current public order regulations.
The controversy centers on Draiman’s consistent condemnation of artists advocating boycotts of Israel, notably Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. born in New York in 1973 and raised in a Jewish family with relatives in Israel, Draiman has frequently used his platform to publicly challenge those critical of the country. This has led to petitions and protests demanding the concert’s ban, arguing his views contribute to a climate of intolerance. Police headquarters stated the security measures are “adapted to the event” and will ensure public safety, but did not address the political dimension of the debate.
Disturbed, formed in Chicago in 1994, achieved mainstream success with their 2000 debut album, The Sickness, and followed up with the commercially prosperous Believe in 2002. The band is scheduled to perform in Paris as part of a European tour. The concert is proceeding despite increasing scrutiny of artists’ political statements and the potential for public demonstrations. authorities are preparing for possible protests during the event, scheduled for an undisclosed date in the coming weeks.
