Israel Expresses Deep Concern Over Inflammatory, Hateful Rhetoric At Glastonbury Competition In UK

The Embassy of Israel in the UK on Saturday expressed deep concern over inflammatory and hateful rhetoric on the Glastonbury Competition.

The embassy particularly highlighted chants equivalent to “Demise to the IDF” and “From the river to the ocean” as advocating for the dismantling of the State of Israel and the elimination of Jewish self-determination.

The embassy acknowledges freedom of expression as a cornerstone of democracy however emphasised that speech crossing into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleaning should be condemned.

“The Embassy of Israel in the UK is deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage on the Glastonbury Competition. Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. However when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleaning, it should be referred to as out–especially when amplified by public figures on outstanding platforms,” Israeli Embassy within the UK acknowledged in a put up on X.

The embassy raised considerations concerning the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence when such messages are delivered to massive audiences and met with applause.

“Chants equivalent to “Demise to the IDF,” and “From the river to the ocean” are slogans that advocate for the dismantling of the State of Israel and implicitly name for the elimination of Jewish self-determination. When such messages are delivered earlier than tens of hundreds of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises severe considerations concerning the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence,” the put up added.

The Embassy of Israel calls on Glastonbury Competition organisers, artists, and public leaders within the UK to denounce the rhetoric and reject all types of hatred.

“We name on Glastonbury Competition organisers, artists, and public leaders within the UK to denounce this rhetoric and reject all types of hatred,” the assertion mentioned.

The Irish-language rap group Kneecap led the crowds in chants of “Free Palestine” and “F*** Keir Starmer,” after the British Prime Minister mentioned he did not suppose it “applicable” for the trio to play the pageant, given the fear offense prices certainly one of its members is at the moment dealing with, The Occasions of Israel reported.

The group has made headlines in current months with their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israel stance, and certainly one of their members has been charged with a terror offense for allegedly supporting Hezbollah.

Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs underneath the stage identify Mo Chara, has been charged underneath the Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organisation for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag and shouting “up Hamas, up Hezbollah,” at a live performance in London in November.

The rapper, who was charged underneath the anglicised model of his identify, Liam O’Hanna, is on unconditional bail earlier than an extra court docket listening to in August, The Occasions of Israel reported.