Amsterdam’s Concertgebouw music venue and the Chanukah Concert foundation have ended their dispute over the participation of a singer with close links to the Israeli army (IDF).

The concert hall cancelled this year’s Hanukkah concert after organisers refused to replace the main singer, Shai Abramson, the army’s chief cantor. The Concertgebouw said the performer’s role in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) conflicted with its mission “to connect people through music.”

The concert, traditionally held to mark the Jewish festival of lights, was scheduled for December 14.

Concertgebouw director Simon Reinink described the decision at the time as “extremely difficult”. “We only make exceptions to our principle of artistic freedom in very rare cases,” he said in a statement. “It is with great regret that we must do so now.”

The organising foundation then announced plans to take legal action, claiming the venue’s decision restricted religious freedom.

The foundation and the Concertgebouw have now agreed that Shai Abramson will perform in two private, invitation-only concerts. The proceeds will go to “a good cause which strives to improve social cohesion in the city.”

The traditional Hanukkah concert will go ahead on Sunday afternoon as planned, but without the controversial cantor.

The Concertgebouw and the foundation say they realise that “the division over this performance will not simply disappear”, but hope that there will be “understanding and support for this compromise”.

They also say they want to continue the tradition of Hanukkah concerts at the Concertgebouw.