Paris Concert Hall Disrupted as Smoke Bomb Detonates During Israeli Orchestra Performance
PARIS – A performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra at the Paris Philharmonic was disrupted Wednesday evening when a smoke bomb was detonated inside the concert hall, leading to the arrest of four individuals, according to AFP. The incident occurred amidst ongoing controversy surrounding the orchestra’s tour and heightened security measures.
Prior to the concert, pro-Palestinian activists had called for its cancellation, viewing the performance as “an attempt to normalize the Israeli state,” as stated by France’s Confederation of Labor (CGT) in a statement released on October 29th. Despite increased security,the disturbance unfolded during the performance.
The Paris philharmonic strongly condemned the incident, stating, “Such actions cannot be justified for any reason,” and emphasizing, “Even if everyone’s opinions and positions are different, threatening the safety of audiences, artists, and staff is absolutely unacceptable. It is a serious problem to drag performance venues into a place of violence.”
This is not the first time conductor Rahav Shani has faced performance-related controversy.Last September, a performance by the Munich philharmonic, led by Shani, was canceled at the Ghent Festival in Belgium, prompting an apology from the Belgian Prime Minister after attending a subsequent performance in Germany. Shani, born in Tel Aviv, previously described the cancellation as “a decision that gave in to political pressure,” while reaffirming his “commitment to peace and reconciliation.” He is slated to become the next chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic in September of next year.
Similar protests occurred outside a performance by the israel Philharmonic Orchestra at Carnegie Hall in New York City on November 15th.
Police detained the four individuals responsible for the disturbance at the Paris Philharmonic, and an investigation is underway.
