Wes Streeting hits out at Glastonbury and BBC over Bob Vylan’s ‘death to the IDF’ chant | EUROtoday

Wes Streeting has hit out at “appalling” and “revolting” chants of “death to the IDF” at Glastonbury and stated that the BBC and competition each have inquiries to reply.

The well being secretary additionally advised the Israeli authorities to get its “personal home so as” and take violence against Palestinians more seriously.

Police are assessing videos of sets by Bob Vylan, who led crowds in chants of “free, free Palestine” and “death, death to the IDF”, and Irish rap trio Kneecap, who suggested fans “start a riot” outside one of the band’s upcoming court appearance.

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Mr Streeting told Sky News the scenes were “appalling” and “I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens.”

“But I also think it’s a pretty shameless publicity stunt, which I don’t really want to give too much indulgence to for that reason.”

On social media, the Israeli Embassy stated it was “deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival”.

Conservative chief Kemi Badenoch known as the scenes “grotesque”, writing on X: “Glorifying violence against Jews isn’t edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked.”

Asked in regards to the Israel embassy’s response to chants at Glastonbury, Mr Streeting added that he would “say to the Israeli embassy, get your individual home so as when it comes to the conduct of your individual residents and the settlers within the West Bank.

“I think there’s a serious point there by the Israeli embassy I take seriously. I wish they’d take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously.”

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He stated what individuals must be speaking about within the context of Israel and Gaza is the humanitarian disaster and the truth that Israeli settlers attacked a Christian village this week.

He added: “All life is sacred. And I find it pretty revolting we’ve got to a stage in this conflict where you’re supposed to sort of cheer on one side or the other like it’s a football team.”

The tradition secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director common about Bob Vylan’s efficiency.

A BBC spokesperson stated: “Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan’s set were deeply offensive.

“During this dwell stream on iPlayer, which mirrored what was occurring on stage, a warning was issued on display in regards to the very robust and discriminatory language. We haven’t any plans to make the efficiency obtainable on demand.”

Kneecap, from Belfast, hit the headlines in recent weeks after Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence.

Discussing his bandmate’s forthcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would “begin a riot exterior the courts”, before clarifying: “No riots, simply love and assist, and assist for Palestine”.

In the run-up to the festival, several politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up, including Sir Keir Starmer who said their performance would not be “acceptable”.

During the performance, Caireallain said: “The prime minister of your nation, not mine, stated he did not need us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.”