But when Speech Crosses Into Incitement

Chants of death to the at Glastonbury were "terrible" and the BBC and the celebration have concerns to respond to, Wes Streeting has actually said, while including that Israel requires to "get its own home in order".

The health secretary stated the chanting need to not have been relayed to those enjoying in your home, highlighting that Israelis at a comparable music festival were abducted, killed and raped.

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"I thought it's appalling, to be sincere, and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got concerns to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens," he told Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips on Sky News. "But I likewise think it's a pretty shameless promotion stunt, which I do not truly want to provide excessive indulgence to because of that."

He also had strong words for Israel, which has condemned the chanting. Streeting stated what people must be discussing in the context of Israel and Gaza is the humanitarian catastrophe in the area and the fact that Israeli settlers attacked a Christian village in the West Bank this week.

"All life is sacred. And I find it quite revolting we've got to a state in this dispute where you're supposed to sort of cheer on one side or the other like it's a football team," he said.

Inquired about the Israel embassy's response to the chants at Glastonbury, he stated: "Well, I 'd state sort of 2 things in action to those words from the Israeli embassy. Firstly, I do think that if I take the equivalent of the war in Ukraine, I'm indisputable about which side of that war I'm on. I desire Ukraine to win. Would I be celebrating or chanting for the death of Russian soldiers? No, I wish to see an end to the war, and I want to see an end to the conflict.

"I 'd likewise state to the Israeli embassy, get your own home in order in regards to the conduct of your own residents and the settlers in the West Bank. So, you know, I believe there's a serious point there by the Israeli embassy I take seriously. I want they 'd take the violence of their own people towards Palestinians more seriously."

Police are examining videos of comments made by the acts Bob Vylan and Kneecap at Glastonbury as the festival enters its 3rd day.

On Saturday the rap artist Bobby Vylan, of the rap punk duo Bob Vylan, led crowds at the festival's West Holts stage in chants of "Free, free Palestine" and "Death, death to the IDF [Israel Defense Forces].

Describing himself as a "violent punk", he said: "Sometimes we have to get our message throughout with violence because that's the only language some people speak, sadly."

Glastonbury organisers stated on Sunday that the act had actually crossed a line. "With practically 4,000 efficiencies at Glastonbury 2025, there will undoubtedly be artists and speakers appearing on our stages whose views we do not share, and an entertainer's presence here must never be viewed as an implied endorsement of their viewpoints and beliefs," the celebration stated in a declaration.

"However, we are horrified by the declarations made from the West Holts phase by Bob Vylan the other day.

"Their chants really much crossed a line and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no location at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence."

Bob Vylan performed before the Irish rap trio Kneecap, who got in touch with fans to show up at Westminster magistrates to support the band member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh, called Mo Chara, who was charged with a terrorism offense for holding a Hezbollah flag at a London gig last November.

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Ó hAnnaidh informed the crowd on Saturday: "Glastonbury, I'm a totally free man!" He added: "If anyone falls down, you have actually got to select them up. We've got to keep each other safe." He thanked the Eavis family, the celebration's organisers, for "holding strong" and allowing their performance to go on.

Avon and Somerset cops said: "We understand the comments made by acts on the West Holts phase at Glastonbury celebration this afternoon. Video proof will be assessed by officers to figure out whether any offenses might have been dedicated that would require a criminal investigation."

The Israeli embassy stated it was "deeply interrupted by the inflammatory and despiteful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury celebration".

A statement on X stated: "Freedom of expression is a cornerstone of democracy. But when speech crosses into incitement, hatred, and advocacy of ethnic cleaning, it should be called out - specifically when magnified by public figures on prominent platforms.

"Chants such as 'Death to the IDF,' and 'From the river to the sea' are mottos that promote for the dismantling of the state of Israel and implicitly require the elimination of Jewish self-determination. When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and consulted with applause, it raises serious issues about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence.

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