The lunchtime performance at London’s Wigmore Hall was taken off air when demonstrators started to shout slogans at the Israeli musicians as they started playing.
“The Quartet, who are cultural ambassadors for the state of Israel, are promoting the interests of Israel and all its policies against the Palestinians, to the British public,” the group chanted before being taken away by security officials.
Director of the Wigmore Hall John Gilhooly said that a decision was taken by the concert hall management to take the broadcast off-air "in order to deny these people publicity."
"It is such a pity that music has become politicised," Gilhooly was quoted saying by the Jewish Chronicle’s breaking news service. He said that an edited version, leaving out the interruptions and the shouting, would be transmitted by BBC Radio Three on Saturday.
The protest comes amid a series of National Action Days being staged across Britain in support of the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions campaign against Israel.
A concert by the Jerusalem Quartet was also disrupted by the Scottish Palestine Campaign when they made their debut at the Edinburgh International Festival in September 2008. Five protesters are still awaiting trial on charges of racism.
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