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| Stink bombs |
Pro Palestinian protesters attacked an Israeli singer during a live performance in honor of Independence Day, with a stick bomb that disrupted the concert, according to press reports in South Africa.
The Israeli Opera Singer, Yaniv d'Or, was forced to stop his special performance in the South African city of Johannesburg, after pro-Palestinian protesters stormed the room and began chanting anti-Israeli slogans. One of the protesters threw a stink bomb on stage.
The concert continued only after d'Or pulled the violent protester backstage.
It was supposed to be an especially festive event. Hundreds of people gathered at the Lyric Theatre on Monday to celebrate the 65th birthday of the State of Israel as part of an annual celebration organized by the umbrella organization of the Jewish communities in South Africa.
Security was tightened after telephone threats were made to the Israeli embassy in Johannesburg in the days leading up to the event, which warned that pro-Palestinian organizations were planning to storm the event.
"Despite the increased security outside the theater, at some point, protesters entered the facility and started chanting slogans against the occupation and for the liberation of Palestine. They were disruptive, but when the security guards forcibly removed them from the room, I thought it was all over. Later, when we began the second part of the show, a woman sitting in the front row suddenly ran onto the stage and started screaming. Then, she threw a stink bomb on stage,” an eyewitness told an Israeli newspaper.
“I support the right of people to hold a protest, but to disrupt a private event is unacceptable. These people should be arrested and charged with trespassing. They should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. Poeple paid top dollars to enjoy a night out and some violent youngsters disrupted the entire event for political gain,” David Manuel, 45, of Johannesburg, South Arica told YourJewishNews.com after learning about the attack.