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Watch: Israeli clarinet player beaten at BDS event in Berlin

A group of Palestine supporters could be seen pushing and beating the man on the face and body, until they were separated and police officers arrived at the scene.

The event started in Berlin’s Neukoelln district with music and dance performances on stage, food stands and several posters from the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign, including signs against the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in Tel Aviv.

Police could be seen removing a poster accusing the Eurovision Song Contest of “art-washing apartheid” after a complaint was lodged by Green Party politician Volker Beck. On Twitter, the politician labelled the commemoration a “political event through-and-through” as opposed to a folklore event that it had been registered as.

https://youtu.be/W3nRkEMtVW0

The 27-year-old Daniel Gurfinkel, was beaten by a group of Arab men at a pro-BDS, anti-Israel event held in Berlin’s Hermann Square.

Gurfinkel, a clarinet player, is studying music, along with his twin brother, at Hochschule für Musik Hanns Eisler music conservatory in Berlin.

The incident occurred last Saturday, as Gurfinkel was passing through the square, when he noticed the anti-Israel demonstration which was being held there to protest the upcoming Eurovision competition in Tel Aviv.

When Gurfinkel called out “Israel” in response to the anti-Israel demonstration, he was immediately attacked by a group of Arab men.

“Immediately, right after the first word I tried to get out to defend Israel, they already started to attack me,” Gurfinkel said, according to Israel Hayom.

Police officers at the scene were slow to respond, Gurfinkel said, initially choosing to ignore the attack.

“They beat me over the head, and the police who were passing by responded with indifference.”

Only after five minutes or so did the police intervene, Gurfinkel said.

“I’ve been living in Berlin for about four years now, and I never imagined that something like this would happen.”

Despite the violent attack, Gurfinkel said he would “continue to defend by country.”