Regev: Unfortunate Iran said no to Israel before Germany said no to Iran

Iran will not allow Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim to perform.

By LAHAV HARKOV
Updated: AUGUST 31, 2015 03:51
Israeli-Argentine conductor Daniel Barenboim (photo credit: REUTERS)
Israeli-Argentine conductor Daniel Barenboim
(photo credit: REUTERS)
Germany should not send the Staatskapelle Berlin orchestra to Iran, which will not allow Israeli conductor Daniel Barenboim to perform, Culture and Sport Minister Miri Regev said on Sunday.
“It’s unfortunate that the Iranians said ‘No to Israel’ before our friend Germany said ‘No to Iran,’” Regev remarked.
The planned concert by Berlin’s state orchestra was announced last week. Barenboim, its Argentine-born conductor, is an outspoken critic of Israeli policies.
Regev spoke out against Barenboim performing in Iran, pointing out that the Islamic Republic is a state sponsor of terrorism, and saying that Germany should cancel the performance.
On Friday, Der Spiegel reported that Regev’s Iranian counterpart had nixed Barenboim’s participation in the event because he has Israeli citizenship.
In reaction, Regev said Sunday: “Behind Iran’s smiling mask is the intention to destroy Israel and harm it.
“The fact that even a pro-Palestinian Israeli is not wanted there is proof that nothing has changed in Tehran,” she added.
Regev said that she expects Germany to say that “if there is no room for an Israeli conductor, then there is no room for the entire German orchestra.”