Alain Platel, 12.09.2025
First of all: the decision of the Festival van Vlaanderen is a courageous one. I’m sure this decision has not been taken lightly. I was not involved in the internal discussions of the Festival but I understand the decision has been made by the entire board of directors and is backed by the City Council of Gent and by the Flemish Minister of Culture.
This decision is linked to the fact that Lahav Shani – the conductor of the concert planned on September the 18th – has been asked by the festival to distance himself from the genocide – committed by the Israeli government – not because he is Israeli or God forbid because he’s Jewish, but because he is the director of an Israeli Institute – the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra – an institute that is funded by the Israeli government and is also a cultural ambassador for the state of Israel.
As I comprehend Mr. Shani has refused to make this statement. It is something I personally can even understand because if one works for Israeli institutes funded by the government, he or she has to sign an agreement that he or she will never criticize the government.
We live an urgent and critical situation, GAZA and the Westbank is not a little conflict that has to be solved, it is a live-streamed genocide, having geopolitical effects. As a country we signed the Genocide-treaty and thus we are obliged to do all we can to prevent or stop a genocide – as a nation … and as I believe if we can: also as individuals.
An institute like het Festival van Vlaanderen Gent wants to draw a red line and doesn’t want to be involved in or be associated with the genocide or with individuals or institutes that could be linked to a genocidal regime. That is not only legitimate … at this horrific moment in time, I believe it is a human obligation.
I understand that for many institutions it is VERY difficult to make a strong statement like the one of Festival van Vlaanderen. To be accused of anti-semitisme is horrible … especially when one knows that the Festival van Vlaanderen has been working together with Jewish artists for decades and is certainly planning to continue to do so in the future.
But at this moment we have to do everything we can, to stop the genocide and … it is VERY important to show profound solidarity with Festival van Vlaanderen Gent!
Alain Platel
12.09.2025
