The BDS movement was officially founded in 2005 by Omar Barghouti. Just as it is factual to say that Israel is currently committing war crimes in Gaza, it is also factual to say that by any objective measure BDS has failed. Over the last 20 years international pressure has successfully stifled Israeli exports, but during that period the government of Israel has become more isolated and authoritarian, as conditions in Palestine have deteriorated, first slowly, and then with horrifying speed.
Flanders Festival Ghent announced it had cancelled a concert by the Munich Philharmonic scheduled for 18 September, citing insufficient clarity over Lahav Shani's attitude to the Israeli government. Shani, who is the music director of the Israel Philharmonic, was expected to lead the concert even though he does not officially take up his role as chief conductor of the German orchestra until next year.
Festival organizers late on Wednesday announced that the Munich Philharmonic would no longer perform on September 18 as planned, saying they were concerned about conductor Lahav Shani's attitude to the Israeli government. Shani, who is to officially take over as conductor of the orchestra for the 2026/27 season, currently serves as music director of the Israel Philharmonic. In a statement, the organizers said they were "unable to provide sufficient clarity about his attitude" towards the Israeli government, which is currently waging a war against the Palestinian militant group Hamas in Gaza, triggering a humanitarian crisis in the territory.
