Paris Concert Disrupted: Activists Protest Israeli Orchestra

Pro-Palestinian activists interrupted a performance by the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra three times on Thursday night in Paris. The concert at the Philharmonie de Paris was halted by protesters shouting slogans. Security personnel removed them each time, allowing the show to continue. In response, the venue's director, Olivier Mantei, defended the decision to host the orchestra. He stated he refuses to equate artists with their government's political actions. "We cannot confuse artists with the policies of a government," Mantei said. He emphasized the concert was a cultural event, not a political endorsement. The Israel Philharmonic has faced similar protests at international performances since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.