Glastonbury Festival Condemns Chants About Israel Defense Forces by Bob Vylan

Bob Vylan performed at the Glastonbury Festival on the West Holts Stage, leading chants against the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) that were deemed to have 'crossed the line' by the festival. The footage of the performance will be reviewed by English police.

A member of the Belfast rap group Kneecap suggested inciting a riot at his bandmate's court appearance following the chants.

In response, Glastonbury Festival and Emily Eavis released a joint statement expressing their stance against war and terrorism. They emphasized that the presence of artists at the festival does not imply endorsement of their views. They condemned the anti-Semitic chants by Bob Vylan and reiterated their commitment to peace and unity.

UK health secretary Wes Streeting criticized the chants, calling them 'appalling' and raising questions about the BBC's coverage of the event. Avon and Somerset Police stated that they would assess the video footage to determine if any criminal offenses were committed.

The Israeli embassy in Britain expressed concern over the rhetoric at the festival, while Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the scenes as 'grotesque.' Culture secretary Lisa Nandy discussed the matter with the BBC director general.

Kneecap, another performing group, faced controversy as member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terror offense. Despite calls for their removal from the festival lineup, they performed and made statements critical of Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

Following the event, the BBC decided not to make Bob Vylan's performance available on demand due to the offensive language used during the set.