The Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, which has been touring South America with solo violinist Itamar Zorman, has been targeted by the boycott, divestment, and sanctions movement, which is calling on music lovers to stay away from the concerts and is staging protests outside the concert halls where the orchestra is scheduled to perform.
Ahead of the orchestra's scheduled concert in Santiago, Chile – the last stop on the South American tour – BDS activists organized a demonstration outside the concert hall and put up posters showing conductor Yeruham Scharovsky spattered in blood.
Israeli Ambassador to Chile Eldad Hayet has asked the Santiago police to help secure the event, Israeli media reported.
The BDS movement was also lying in wait in São Paulo, Brazil, when the orchestra arrived there last week. Protesters in São Paulo waved PLO flags and shouted condemnations of Israel. The Brazilian police moved them away from the venue and the concert went on as planned, but under heavy security.
Smaller demonstrations took place in Buenos Aires and in the province of Tucumán in northwest Argentina, as well as in Lima, Peru.
JSO Director General Yair Stern said that incidents such as these were "unpleasant" but did not cast a pall over the performances.
"The police kept order and allowed the performances to go on as planned. The halls were full," Stern said.
