Scottish Protests Dog Israeli Dance Troupe
The opening performance of an Israeli dance troupe at the Edinburgh International Festival was disrupted four times last night, as protesters in the audience shouted “free Palestine.”
The Batsheva Dance Company members stopped as the protesters were removed by security, but then continued. The disruption was not a surprise, as pro-Palestinian activists had announced it beforehand.
An Israeli Embassy spokesman said that it was clear the demonstrators were “not motivated by any desire to help the Palestinians or advance peace, but only to sow hatred.
“We are delighted the audience gave Batsheva repeated standing ovations. We call on Britain to condemn disturbances to Israeli cultural performances. We are committed to ensuring that Israeli-British cooperation will continue to flourish.”
The show, which was attended by Culture and Sports Minister Limor Livnat and Israeli ambassador to Britain Daniel Taub, has been dogged by controversy since it was announced.
For more, go to Haaretz.com
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news. All donations are still being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000 until April 24.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
