Streeting tells Israel to get its own ‘house in order' over West Bank violence
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said Israel needs to 'get your own house in order' and take violence against Palestinians 'more seriously'.
He said that chants calling for 'death' to the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) at Glastonbury were 'appalling'.
But Mr Streeting also urged Israel to look at the conduct of its own citizens and settlers in the West Bank.
Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, on Saturday led crowds on the Glastonbury Festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF'.
On social media, the Israeli embassy had said the performances raise concerns about the 'normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence'.
The Health Secretary drew the comparison of his support for Ukraine in its war with Russia, telling Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that he would not be 'celebrating or chanting for the death of Russian soldiers' but calling for an end to the conflict.
'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.
'So, you know, 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.'
Speaking to the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme he pointed to the actions of Israeli settlers in the West Bank in the past week.
He appeared to be referring to an attack by settlers in a town in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Palestinian authorities said that three people were killed after more than 100 settlers entered the town on Wednesday, set property ablaze and opened fire on residents who tried to stop them.
Mr Streeting said: 'What happened in the West Bank this week by Israeli settler terrorists needs to not only be condemned, it needs to be acted upon, and Israel cannot continue to look the other way while its own people are carrying out … acts of terrorism and violence.
'They wouldn't tolerate it rightly against their own citizens. Their citizens are doing it to Palestinians, and it's got to stop.'
The Israeli embassy in the UK has been contacted for comment.
Sir Keir Starmer's Government has stepped up pressure on Israel over the conflict in Gaza in recent months.
It paused negotiations on a UK-Israel trade deal and sanctioned two hardline ministers in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's cabinet.
Bezalel Smotrich has campaigned against allowing aid into Gaza, and also supported the expansion of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which are considered illegal under international law.
Itamar Ben-Gvir has called for Gaza's people to be resettled from the territory.
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ITV News
20 minutes ago
- ITV News
BBC under pressure amid criticism of ‘death to the IDF' chants at Glastonbury
Sir Keir Starmer has led criticism across the political spectrum of chants at Glastonbury for 'death' to the Israeli military as the BBC faced pressure to explain why it kept broadcasting. Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, on Saturday led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. A member of Belfast rap trio Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' at his bandmate's forthcoming court appearance related to a terrorism charge. Responding to the chants from Bob Vylan, the Prime Minister said: 'There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. 'I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence. 'The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.' A member of Kneecap said 'f*** Keir Starmer' during their performance after the Prime Minister called for the band not to play at the festival. Avon and Somerset Police said video evidence from the performances would be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation. Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis said Bob Vylan's chants 'very much crossed a line'. '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,' she said in a statement. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Bob Vylan was 'inciting violence and hatred' and should be arrested and prosecuted. 'By broadcasting his vile hatred, the BBC appear to have also broken the law,' he said. 'I call on the Police to urgently investigate and prosecute the BBC as well for broadcasting this. Our national broadcaster should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite violence and conflict,' he posted on X. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called it a 'pretty shameless publicity stunt' and said the BBC and Glastonbury have 'questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens', speaking to Sky News. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes 'grotesque'. 'Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked,' she wrote on X. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said she was 'horrified' and that the BBC should have cut the feed. 'Given the nature of the attacks on Israel, the BBC should not have kept broadcasting that. They should have cut the coverage immediately,' she told Times Radio. Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said: 'Bob Vylan's chants at Glastonbury yesterday were appalling. Cultural events are always a place for debate, but hate speech, antisemitism and incitements to violence have no place at Glastonbury or anywhere in our society.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. The BBC said it showed a warning during the performance and that viewers would not be able to access it on demand. A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. 'During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. 'We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' The Israeli embassy said it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it would be formally complaining to the BBC over its 'outrageous decision' to broadcast Bob Vylan. 'Our national broadcaster must apologise for its dissemination of this extremist vitriol, and those responsible must be removed from their positions,' a spokesperson said. Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class. Bobby Vylan's real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports. He is listed on Companies House as the director of Ghost Theatre Records, which is operated by Bob Vylan. Kneecap have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. The group performed after Vylan's set on the West Holts Stage with O hAnnaidh exclaiming 'Glastonbury, I'm a free man' as they took to the stage. In reference to his bandmate's forthcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.' In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up and Sir Keir said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. During Kneecap's set, O hAnnaidh said: 'The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' Kneecap also gave a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. A BBC spokesperson said an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance was available on iPlayer. 'We have edited it to ensure the content falls within the limits of artistic expression in line with our editorial guidelines and reflects the performance from Glastonbury's West Holts Stage. As with all content which includes strong language, this is signposted with appropriate warnings.'
Daily Mail
23 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
BBC chiefs have blood on their hands, says family of man murdered at Nova music festival by Hamas terrorists in October 7 massacre
The family of a young man murdered by Hamas terrorists in the October 7 massacre has accused the BBC of having 'blood on its hands'. Yoram Yehudaj, who lost his 24-year-old son Ron when the Nova music festival was attacked, said the broadcaster should be 'ashamed' for televising a Glastonbury punk act chanting about the death of Israeli soldiers. Bob Vylan's performance caused outrage as its singer shouted 'death, death to the IDF' on Saturday. Relatives of the 364 festival-goers killed on October 7, 2023, said calling for the death of members of the Israeli Defence Forces was Hamas propaganda. Mr Yehudaj said last night: 'I am a bereaved father who lost his son at the Nova festival. Hamas terrorists raped, murdered, burned and kidnapped our children. 'And yet, the BBC gives a platform to Hamas propaganda. This is unacceptable. They have blood on their hands. 'Bob Vylan's performance was disgusting and the BBC should be ashamed for running it. The BBC did not stop the broadcast, this deserves condemnation.' Ron was murdered during the biggest attack on Jewish people since the Holocaust. He was shot dead with eight others after hiding from the terrorists in a rubbish dumpster. 'My son was innocent, he just went to a festival just like Glastonbury. Palestinian terrorists wouldn't hesitate twice to kill everyone there either,' Mr Yehudaj added 'I call on the BBC and UK authorities to investigate this incident, issue a public apology, and ensure such incitement is never again normalised in the name of 'art' or 'freedom of speech'.' Mr Yehudaj said he had been in constant communication with his son on the day he died. In an emotional interview, he recalled Ron telling him he was 'okay' and showing more concern for his parents than himself. By tracking the messages they shared, he knows that his son died at exactly 11.47am.' Mr Yehudaj was too distressed to tell his wife what had happened. Seven days later, the Israeli authorities told the family that Ron had died. In an effort to protect his wife from further anguish, Mr Yehudaj refused to let her identify the body, which he and Ron's brother did by looking at his tattoos. 'I didn't tell my wife Sigal all night what I had heard. I kept it in. I wanted to protect her but I refused to believe my son was dead,' he said. 'I wanted to believe that maybe he's alive and he's kidnapped, but now we know we lost Ron at 11.47am. His last text to me was that he loved us. I didn't know where they shot him. I didn't know what the condition was so I decided that I will not let Sigal go to identify him. 'I asked my son and just to recognise him by tattoos. That is how we identified his body – by his tattoos. I think it was a mistake to make for my older son as it was very difficult for him.'
Western Telegraph
37 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
BBC under pressure amid criticism of ‘death to the IDF' chants at Glastonbury
Rapper Bobby Vylan, of rap punk duo Bob Vylan, on Saturday led crowds on the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'Free, free Palestine' and 'Death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. A member of Belfast rap trio Kneecap suggested fans 'start a riot' at his bandmate's forthcoming court appearance related to a terrorism charge. Responding to the chants from Bob Vylan, the Prime Minister said: 'There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech. 'I said that Kneecap should not be given a platform and that goes for any other performers making threats or inciting violence. 'The BBC needs to explain how these scenes came to be broadcast.' A member of Kneecap said 'f*** Keir Starmer' during their performance after the Prime Minister called for the band not to play at the festival. Avon and Somerset Police said video evidence from the performances would be assessed by officers to determine whether any offences may have been committed that would require a criminal investigation. Glastonbury organiser Emily Eavis said Bob Vylan's chants 'very much crossed a line'. '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,' she said in a statement. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said Bob Vylan was 'inciting violence and hatred' and should be arrested and prosecuted. 'By broadcasting his vile hatred, the BBC appear to have also broken the law,' he said. 'I call on the Police to urgently investigate and prosecute the BBC as well for broadcasting this. Our national broadcaster should not be transmitting hateful material designed to incite violence and conflict,' he posted on X. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called it a 'pretty shameless publicity stunt' and said the BBC and Glastonbury have 'questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens', speaking to Sky News. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called the scenes 'grotesque'. 'Glorifying violence against Jews isn't edgy. The West is playing with fire if we allow this sort of behaviour to go unchecked,' she wrote on X. Shadow work and pensions secretary Helen Whately said she was 'horrified' and that the BBC should have cut the feed. 'Given the nature of the attacks on Israel, the BBC should not have kept broadcasting that. They should have cut the coverage immediately,' she told Times Radio. Liberal Democrat culture, media and sport spokesman Max Wilkinson said: 'Bob Vylan's chants at Glastonbury yesterday were appalling. Cultural events are always a place for debate, but hate speech, antisemitism and incitements to violence have no place at Glastonbury or anywhere in our society.' Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has spoken to the BBC director general about Bob Vylan's performance, a Government spokesperson said. The BBC said it showed a warning during the performance and that viewers would not be able to access it on demand. Bob Vylan performing on the West Holts Stage (Ben Birchall/PA) A spokesperson for the broadcaster said: 'Some of the comments made during Bob Vylan's set were deeply offensive. 'During this live stream on iPlayer, which reflected what was happening on stage, a warning was issued on screen about the very strong and discriminatory language. 'We have no plans to make the performance available on demand.' The Israeli embassy said it was 'deeply disturbed by the inflammatory and hateful rhetoric expressed on stage at the Glastonbury Festival'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) said it would be formally complaining to the BBC over its 'outrageous decision' to broadcast Bob Vylan. 'Our national broadcaster must apologise for its dissemination of this extremist vitriol, and those responsible must be removed from their positions,' a spokesperson said. Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, have released four albums addressing issues to do with racism, masculinity and class. Bobby Vylan's real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster, 34, according to reports. He is listed on Companies House as the director of Ghost Theatre Records, which is operated by Bob Vylan. Kneecap performing on the West Holts Stage (Yui Mok/PA) Kneecap have been in the headlines after member Liam Og O hAnnaidh, who performs under the name Mo Chara, was charged with a terror offence. The group performed after Vylan's set on the West Holts Stage with O hAnnaidh exclaiming 'Glastonbury, I'm a free man' as they took to the stage. In reference to his bandmate's forthcoming court date, Naoise O Caireallain, who performs under the name Moglai Bap, said they would 'start a riot outside the courts', before clarifying: 'No riots, just love and support, and support for Palestine.' In the run-up to the festival at Worthy Farm in Somerset, several politicians called for the group to be removed from the line-up and Sir Keir said their performance would not be 'appropriate'. During Kneecap's set, O hAnnaidh said: 'The prime minister of your country, not mine, said he didn't want us to play, so f*** Keir Starmer.' Kneecap also gave a 'big thank you to the Eavis family' and said 'they stood strong' amid calls for the organisers to drop them from the line-up. A BBC spokesperson said an on-demand version of Kneecap's performance was available on iPlayer. 'We have edited it to ensure the content falls within the limits of artistic expression in line with our editorial guidelines and reflects the performance from Glastonbury's West Holts Stage. As with all content which includes strong language, this is signposted with appropriate warnings.'
