JThursday, November 6, the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert conducted by Lahav Shani was interrupted several times at the Philharmonie de Paris. As the first note from Piano Concerto No. 5 at the Beethoven, some people shouted slogans hostile to Israel and threw leaflets into the crowd.
In the video posted on social networks, two smoke bombs can be seen being set off in the room, causing panic among the audience. Clashes occurred between activists and the community, before the police intervened.
About fifteen law enforcement vehicles were deployed around the building. The concert, which was stopped during the intervention, was able to resume after the intruders were evacuated. Four people were arrested and detained by police, Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez said. The Philharmonie de Paris condemned the “serious incident” in a press release and announced its intention to file a complaint, while warning that “nothing can justify endangering the safety of the public, staff and artists.”
The suspect in file S
Based on information gathered by BFMTV, the four suspects were charged on Sunday 9 November and placed under judicial supervision. Three of them are on trial for “endangering the lives of others”, while the fourth is suspected of organizing an unannounced demonstration. The charges also include “damaging another’s property in a dangerous manner,” “possession of incendiary products” and “violence with the use or threat of a weapon.”
Among those arrested was a 20-year-old man, listed as S for belonging to a “protest movement”, found with disturbing equipment: a stink ball, red ink and an alarm. Another 31-year-old, who allegedly set off the smoke bomb, was arrested after being attacked by onlookers. A 26-year-old woman, who also allegedly set off the smoke bomb, was carrying several pro-Palestinian leaflets. The fourth defendant who is currently being questioned is suspected of coordinating the action.
The concert became the center of controversy
These incidents occurred in the context of intense tensions surrounding the arrival of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra. For several days, pro-Palestinian organizations (including Urgence Palestine, Artistes pour la Palestine and BDS France) have called for the event to be cancelled, and accused the Philharmonic of “normalizing” Israeli policies. CGT-Spectacle, in its October 29 press release, criticized the lack of “political contextualization” in the concert.
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In response, another petition signed by several classical music figures, including Martha Argerich, Natalie Dessay and Evgeny Kissin, defended the orchestra, noting that its members “come from different backgrounds” and that Lahav Shani “is not a diplomat or a propagandist, but a musician”. The political class, for its part, is the one that most condemns these actions. Rachida Dati, Minister of Culture, condemned the “unacceptable intrusion of violence into concert halls”. Crif President Yonathan Arfi, who was also present in the room, spoke of “hateful agitators” and called for “exemplary sanctions” against X.
On the left, Jean-Luc Mélenchon said the protests could not be prevented, pointing to the “humanitarian drama” in Gaza. In September, conductor Lahav Shani had become the target of political pressure in Belgium, where he was canceled from the Ghent Festival. The musician then denounced “demands that contradict his commitment to peace.”
