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A night of music turned chaotic in Paris, France, on Thursday when protesters interrupted an Israel Philharmonic Orchestra concert three times.
The protesters ignited flares and clashed with audience members before police intervened.
Each time, the musicians returned to the stage and continued performing. The Philharmonie de Paris, which hosted the concert, said it would file a formal complaint and condemned the acts in strong terms: “Nothing can justify such actions. It is entirely unacceptable to threaten the safety of the public, staff, and artists.”
French Leaders Condemn the Violence
French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez condemned the incident on X, saying “I strongly condemn the actions committed last night during a concert at the Philharmonie de Paris. Nothing can justify them.” He thanked police for acting quickly and arresting the perpetrators. “Four people have been placed in custody,” he wrote.
Je condamne fermement les agissements commis hier soir lors d’un concert à la Philharmonie de Paris. Rien ne peut les justifier.
Je remercie les effectifs de la @prefpolice qui ont permis l’interpellation rapide de plusieurs auteurs de troubles graves à l’intérieur de la salle… https://t.co/ZTieOuaaXU
— Laurent Nuñez (@NunezLaurent) November 7, 2025
According to the Paris prosecutor’s office, three women and one man face charges that include violence, destruction, and organizing an unauthorized protest.
Culture Minister Rachida Dati called the attack a violation of “the fundamental rights of our Republic.” She reaffirmed France’s commitment to artistic freedom and the rule of law.
Boycott Calls Rejected
The CGT Spectacle union, which represents entertainment workers, criticized the concert and claimed it served Israel’s “normalization” efforts. However, it stopped short of urging a boycott.
Minister Dati rejected all attempts to justify such actions. She defended the Philharmonie’s decision to host the orchestra and reminded the public that the venue has long welcomed both Israeli and Palestinian artists without political conflict.
Art and Intimidation
Conductor Lahav Shani, who led the orchestra at Thursday’s concert, has faced similar hostility. In September, a Belgian festival rescinded his invitation due to pressure from boycott activists.
The disruption in Paris illustrates how anti-Israel activism is increasingly crossing into cultural spaces, turning art into a target for intimidation.
Threats and violence have no place in a concert hall or in any free society.
“Antisemitic Harassment, Plain and Simple’
Combat Antisemitism Movement (CAM) Director of European Affairs Shannon Seban stated, “Artists who came to Paris to play music, a universal symbol of dialogue and peace, were targeted simply because of their nationality. Protesting Israeli musicians because one disagrees with the actions of their government is not political activism, it is antisemitic harassment, plain and simple. The perpetrators must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”
“This marks only the latest outrageous example of the growing normalization of Jew-hatred in French society,” Seban noted. “If concrete and immediate action is not taken to reverse this disturbing trend, the future of French Jewry, and the Republic as a whole, is bleak.”
« This marks only the latest outrageous example of the growing normalization of Jew-hatred in French society. If concrete and immediate action is not taken to reverse this disturbing trend, the future of French Jewry, and the Republic as a whole, is bleak. ».
My reaction to…
— Shannon Seban (@ShannonSeban) November 8, 2025
Take Action
CAM has launched Report It — a secure app to report antisemitic incidents anonymously and in real time. Don’t stay silent — download it today on the Apple Store or Google Play. See it. Report it. Stop it. Together, we can fight this hate.
