The Flanders Festival Ghent said it had cancelled the performance as conductor Lahav Shani had not "unequivocally" distanced himself from Israel's government HANS PUNZ

Belgium's Prime Minister Bart De Wever said Saturday he attended a concert by a German orchestra that was disinvited from a Belgian festival to show support for its Israeli conductor.

The cancellation of a planned performance at the Flanders Festival Ghent by the Munich Philharmonic over concerns about its Israeli future chief conductor, Lahav Shani, has triggered a storm of criticism and accusations of antisemitism.

De Wever, who had already criticised the move, said he travelled to the German city of Essen on Saturday to "strongly condemn" the decision, and express his appreciation for Shani in person.

"There will ne

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