Israeli Orchestra Broadcast Halted by London Protesters

Politics and a concert did not make beautiful music yesterday in London. A noisy pro-Palestinian protest against the Israeli Philharmonic at Albert Hall prevented a BBC radio broadcast of the music, part of Britain's celebrated Proms music festival. The persistent protesters were organized by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, whose representatives charged that the orchestra was "complicit in whitewashing Israel's violations of international law and human rights," reports the Telegraph.

Audience members booed the protesters, and one punched a demonstrator, reports the Los Angeles Times. The broadcast was stopped and the protesters (and violent audience member) were ejected before the performance continued. The BBC tweeted: "We're sorry that the concert was taken off air following hall disturbance. Glad both pieces were heard by the audience" in the Royal Albert Hall. The BBC Proms is an eight-day festival of concerts and other events. (More London stories.)