Four anti-Israel rioters were arrested for disturbing the peace and starting a fire at the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra’s concert in Paris.
By Rachel Avraham
The Jerusalem Post reported that four people were arrested for rioting during a concert of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra in Paris. According to the report, anti-Israel activists interrupted the performance three times, including with flares and clashed with audience members during each incident, France in English reported.
The orchestra resumed its performance after each interruption, the Jerusalem Post added. Nevertheless, the Times of Israel also reported that the musicians were evacuated from the stage after one protester lit a chair on fire, prompting a fight in the stalls. The Times of Israel added that footage from the scene showed audience members rushing toward the protester after the seat was set ablaze, wrestling the flare from his hands to scattered applause. Several men could be seen herding him out of the stalls, throwing punches as they went, the Times of Israel added.
The Jerusalem Post added that the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra will be filing a complaint over the disruptions by anti-Israel activists. “On three occasions, ticket holders attempted to disrupt the concert in various ways, twice using flares,” it said in a press release on Friday morning. “Other spectators intervened and clashes ensued. The troublemakers were removed and the concert, which had been interrupted, resumed and concluded peacefully.”
“Nothing can justify such actions,” it continued. “Regardless of individual opinions, it is completely unacceptable to threaten the safety of the public, staff, and artists.” Yonathan Arfi, the head of the Representative Council of French Jewish Institutions (CRIF), condemned the incident, writing on X on Thursday night that the “calls for a boycott and the increasing disruptions are unacceptable.”
“They will never prevent artists targeted by hatred from receiving a standing ovation,” he said, congratulating the musicians for continuing to play despite the “hateful agitators.” The French government also condemned the incident. “I strongly condemn the actions committed last night during a concert at the Philharmonie de Paris. Nothing can justify them,” French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said on X.
“I thank the personnel from the Paris police who enabled the rapid arrest of several perpetrators of serious disturbances inside the venue and contained the demonstrators outside. Four people have been placed in custody,” he added.
According to the Jerusalem Post, the Paris prosecutor’s office said three women and a man were in custody, on charges ranging from violence, destruction, and organizing an unauthorized protest. French Culture Minister Rachida Dati, on X, condemned the disruptions as a violation of the “fundamental rights of our Republic.”
Photo from 松岡明芳: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israel_Philharmonic_Orchestra#/media/File:1985-9-3_Leonard_BernsteinImg%E3%80%81Israel_Philharmonic_Orchestra_in_Osaka_Festival_Hall,_Mahler_Symphony_No._9_in_D_major_851%E2%98%86%E5%BD%A1.jpg
