When the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra was founded shortly before World War Two, its members included Jewish musicians fleeing persecution in Europe. Sadly, there are still many in Europe who would like to silence Jewish performers, and tonight the Israel-haters of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign did their best to disrupt a concert by the IPO at London’s Royal Albert Hall.
Members of the group infiltrated the audience, and began booing and singing at several points during the performance. Around 30 people were removed from the hall to jeers from the majority of the audience. The BBC had to suspend its radio broadcast of the concert.
Back in Israel the IPO’s educational project works with both Jewish and Arab schoolchildren and musicians, and in 1999 the orchestra played to a mixed audience of Israeli and Palestinian children; the Palestinian intifada in 2000 put an end to such bridge-building events. But those efforts aren’t enough to spare it the attentions of the PSC, which clearly sees the orchestra as a soft target against which to vent its hatred of all things Israeli and Jewish.
BBC are running this as a lead item on Breakfast News. Is that because they are anti-semites? Would they be more pro-Israel if they ignored the story? Just waiting for the “all English are anti-semitic” folk to weigh in and suggest that the PSC is somehow representative of British people rather than a tiny organisation composed of left-wing university lecturers and proffesional mendicants.
“Officials said about 30 people were eventually ejected from a full house of about 5,600 people but no arrests were made.”
No arrests were made. NO ARRESTS WERE MADE. I am a British taxpayer. A couple of weeks ago, police “services” (they used to be police “forces”) stood by and watched, as honest people’s homes and businesses were burnt to the ground. No arrests were made. Homes and businesses were burned to the ground and a number of people were murdered. Eventually, arrests were made.
Oh, yes, the police got video evidence and some rioters have been sentenced; already, the bleeding hearts are campaigning for reduced sentences.
The police in Britain have ceased even to pretend to protect the public. Regarding the disgraceful scenes at the Royal Albert Hall last night, I genuinely don’t believe that British Jews are in any more danger than the rest of us, but policing here has to change its tactics – drastically.
These protesters were dying to be arrested so they could scream “police state,help,help,now you see the violence inherent in the system blah,blah”.
I can’t wait for the visit of the Palestinian Peoples Orchestra,can you imagine what that will sound like?
Gunfire and explosions..
They are introducing a new instrument to the program called the “explodaphone”.
…and wouldn’t you know it, a prototype already exists!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEYb3AeW4LU
The best way to counter the BDS fools is to buy Israel products or donate to Israel causes and let them know that they prompted you to do it.
When I find one of them online I make a point of doing that each time and find that they soon stop calling for BDS.
I donated online to one of my favorite Israel charities after I read about this protest. Israel Philharmonic DVDs are available on Amazon but I am not a big classical music fan. Anybody know some good Israeli rock or rap you can buy?
Buycott Israel and Divest this are helpful websites.
http://fundisrael.org/
I would suggest that Israel organize the “Mossad Symphony Orchestra” and send it out on tour. We would be sure that any disruptions in their program would be dealt with speedily and effectively.
And yet, with a straight face, the left says it’s the Jews that are hateful and intolerant.
Here’s a suggestion to the Paleostinians, quit blowing things up and quit launching rockets into Israel. You’ll be amazed at how much friendlier the Jewish people become.
Interesting how they chose a soft target like a symphony concert.
Try a semi-hardened target next time – maybe Toby Keith sings “Angry American” at a benefit concert for American troops returning from overseas. They’d be begging the police to save them from the audience.
Or even better – try to disrupt the kickoff of the Saints/Packers game in Green Bay next Thursday. There aren’t enough cops in the whole state of Wisconsin to save you there.
Must have been a rather timid audience to allow 30 people to ruin the night. If they had to contend with a last night prom crowd it might have turned out differently! I suspect these protesters hate the Union flag even more than the Star of David.