Glastonbury slams Bob Vylan's 'death to' Israel chant: 'Crossed a line'
GLASTONBURY, England − Glastonbury organizers say they're appalled by onstage chanting against the Israeli military during a performance by the punk-rap duo Bob Vylan, saying the music festival was no place for antisemitism or incitement to violence.
During a show on Saturday, June 28, the duo chanted "Death, death, to the IDF" in apparent reference to the Israel Defense Forces, the formal name of the Israeli military.
British police said they were considering whether to launch an investigation after artists at Glastonbury made anti-Israel comments on stage, without naming Bob Vylan.
"Video evidence will be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation," Avon and Somerset Police in western England, where the festival is held, said on X.
A post shared by Glastonbury Festival (@glastofest)
Festival organizers criticized the chanting by Bob Vylan, made up of guitarist and singer Bobby Vylan and drummer Bobbie Vylan, their stage names.
"Their chants very much crossed a line, and we are urgently reminding everyone involved in the production of the festival that there is no place at Glastonbury for antisemitism, hate speech or incitement to violence," the festival said in a statement shared on Instagram.
The Israeli Embassy in Britain condemned the "inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed" at the festival.
Bob Vylan's band members did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
Their show on the festival's West Holts stage took place just before controversial Irish rap trio Kneecap played to a huge crowd, leading chants against British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and also taking aim at Israel.
During the show, frontman Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh accused Israel of committing war crimes, saying: "There's no hiding it."
Known by the stage name Mo Chara, he was charged with a terrorism offence last month for allegedly displaying a flag in support of Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah at a concert. He has denied the charge.
Senior members of Starmer's government also criticized the chants by Bob Vylan.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said it was appalling that the comments had been made on stage, adding that he was also appalled by violence committed by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank.
"I'd also say to the Israeli Embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank," Streeting told Sky News.
"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens toward Palestinians more seriously."
Political commentator Ash Sarkar said it was typical of punk musicians to spark controversy.
"Don't book punk bands if you don't want them to do punk stuff," said Sarkar, a contributing editor to Novara Media, a leftist media organization.
Contributing: Sophie Royle, Reuters
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