Streeting tells Israel to get its own ‘house in order' over West Bank violence
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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Glasgow Times
33 minutes ago
- Glasgow Times
Palestine Action to legally challenge proscription under anti-terror law
An urgent hearing was held in the High Court on Monday related to an application for judicial review on behalf of one of the founders of the direct action group, Huda Ammori. A further hearing will be held on Friday to decide whether the Government can temporarily be blocked from banning the group, pending a hearing to decide whether Palestine Action can bring the legal challenge. A decision on whether the group will be given the green light to bring the legal challenge will be given at a further hearing expected to be held in the week of July 21. Supporting statements have also been submitted by Amnesty International, Liberty and European Legal Support Centre over concerns of unlawful misuse of anti-terror measures to criminalise dissent, a spokesperson said. It comes as a draft order was laid before Parliament on Monday to amend the Terrorism Act 2000 to include Palestine Action as a proscribed organisation, making membership and support for the direct action group illegal. If approved, it would become a criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper unveiled the intention to ban the group on June 23 (James Manning/PA) Commenting on the hearing, Ms Ammori said: 'I have been left with no choice but to request this urgent hearing and to seek either an injunction or other form of interim relief because of the Home Secretary's decision to try to steamroll this through Parliament immediately, without proper opportunity for MPs and Peers to debate and scrutinise the proposal, or for legal and human rights experts and civil society organisations to make representations, or for those of us who would be denied fundamental rights as a result and criminalised as 'terrorists' overnight, including the many thousands of people who support Palestine Action.' The Government's move comes after two planes were vandalised at RAF Brize Norton on June 20 in an action claimed by Palestine Action. Five people have since been arrested on suspicion of a terror offence in relation to the incident. Unveiling the intention to ban the group following the incident on June 23, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said it was the latest in a 'long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action'. The group has staged a series of demonstrations in recent months, including spraying the London offices of Allianz Insurance with red paint over its alleged links to Israeli defence company Elbit, and vandalising US President Donald Trump's Turnberry golf course in South Ayrshire. Its website states the group uses disruptive tactics to target 'corporate enablers of the Israeli military-industrial complex' and seeks to make it 'impossible for these companies to profit from the oppression of Palestinians'. Ms Ammori added that causing disruption 'is not terrorism', while Ms Cooper has said proscribing the group is a 'legitimate response to the threat posed' by Palestine Action. The Home Secretary has the power to proscribe an organisation under the Terrorism Act of 2000 if she believes it is 'concerned in terrorism'. Some 81 organisations have been proscribed under the 2000 Act, including Islamist terrorist groups such as Hamas and al-Qaida, far-right groups such as National Action, and Russian private military company the Wagner Group.
Rhyl Journal
34 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
BBC regrets not pulling Bob Vylan Glastonbury live stream
The corporation has come under fire after rapper Bobby Vylan – of the rap punk duo – led crowds at the festival's West Holts Stage in chants of 'free, free Palestine' and 'death, death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)'. Following the performance, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer criticised the chants as 'appalling hate speech' and on Monday broadcasting regulator Ofcom said it is 'very concerned' about the live stream. In a statement, the BBC said: 'Millions of people tuned in to enjoy Glastonbury this weekend across the BBC's output but one performance within our livestreams included comments that were deeply offensive. The BBC respects freedom of expression but stands firmly against incitement to violence. 'The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and have no place on our airwaves. We welcome Glastonbury's condemnation of the performance. 'The performance was part of a live stream of the West Holts stage on BBC iPlayer. 'The judgment on Saturday to issue a warning on screen while streaming online was in line with our editorial guidelines. 'In addition, we took the decision not to make the performance available on demand. The team were dealing with a live situation, but with hindsight we should have pulled the stream during the performance. We regret this did not happen.' The BBC said that in light of the performance, they would be looking at their guidance around live events so 'we can be sure teams are clear on when it is acceptable to keep output on air'. A post shared by Glastonbury Festival (@glastofest) Ofcom said in its statement that the BBC 'clearly has questions to answer', adding: 'We have been speaking to the BBC over the weekend and we are obtaining further information as a matter of urgency, including what procedures were in place to ensure compliance with its own editorial guidelines.' Avon and Somerset Police said at the weekend that they are assessing videos of comments made by Bob Vylan and Belfast rap trio Kneecap at Glastonbury to decide whether any offences may have been committed. A member of Kneecap, who performed on the West Holts stage in the slot directly after Bob Vylan, suggested fans 'start a riot' at his bandmate's forthcoming court appearance related to a terrorism charge. In addition, during their performance, a member of Kneecap also said 'f*** Keir Starmer' on stage after the Prime Minister called for the band not to play at the festival. Glastonbury Festival itself also condemned the chants by Bob Vylan, saying in a statement on Sunday they were 'appalled by the statements' made on stage. A statement on Instagram said: '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.' 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. In a statement posted to Instagram, Vylan said: 'Teaching our children to speak up for the change they want and need is the only way that we make this world a better place. 'As we grow older and our fire starts to possibly dim under the suffocation of adult life and all its responsibilities, it is incredibly important that we encourage and inspire future generations to pick up the torch that was passed to us.'
Rhyl Journal
34 minutes ago
- Rhyl Journal
Israeli settlers rampage at military base in the West Bank
Sunday night's unrest came after several attacks in the West Bank carried out by Jewish settlers and anger at their arrests by security forces attempting to contain the violence over the past few days. More than 100 settlers on Wednesday evening entered the West Bank town of Kfar Malik, setting property ablaze and opening fire on Palestinians who tried to stop them, Najeb Rostom, head of the local council, said. Three Palestinians were killed after the military intervened. Israeli security forces arrested five settlers. 'No civilised country can tolerate violent and anarchic acts of burning a military facility, damaging IDF property and attacking security personnel by citizens of the country,' Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Footage on Israeli media showed dozens of young, religious men typically associated with 'hilltop youth', an extremist movement of Israeli settlers who occupy West Bank hilltops and have been accused of attacking Palestinians and their property. The footage showed security forces using stun grenades as dozens of settlers gathered around the military base just north of Ramallah. The Israeli military released photos of the infrastructure burned in the attack, which it said included 'systems that help thwart terrorist attacks and maintain security'. Far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who has often defended Israelis accused of similar crimes, offered a rare condemnation of Sunday's violence. 'Attacking security forces, security facilities, and IDF soldiers who are our brothers, our protectors, is a red line, and must be dealt with in full severity. We are brothers,' he wrote on X. Opposition leader Yair Lapid told Israel's Army radio that the riots were carried out by 'Jewish terrorists, gangs of criminals, who feel backed by the (governing) coalition'. A hard-line supporter of Jewish settlements, Mr Ben-Gvir was previously convicted in Israel of racist incitement and support for terrorist groups, and has called for the deportation of all Arab citizens from Israel. Though once widely shunned by Israel's politicians, Mr Ben-Gvir's influence has grown and alongside a shift to the right in the country's electorate has further emboldened violence from extremist settlers in the West Bank. Defence minister Israel Katz vowed on Monday to 'eradicate this violence from the root' and implored the extremist settlers to remember that many of the security forces are exhausted reservists serving multiple rounds of duty. Over the past two years of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, Palestinian residents in the West Bank have reported a major increase in Israeli checkpoints and delays across the territory. Israel, meanwhile, says threats from the West Bank against its citizens are on the rise. Israel captured the West Bank, Gaza and east Jerusalem in the 1967 Mideast war, and Palestinians want all three territories for their future state. The West Bank is home to some three million Palestinians live under seemingly open-ended Israeli military rule, and 500,000 Jewish settlers. The international community overwhelmingly considers settlements illegal.
