Latest news with #EphraimMirvis
The Guardian
03-07-2025
- Politics
- The Guardian
Israel's actions offend us more than Bob Vylan
I do appreciate Marina Hyde's irony and dry humour, I really do (Glastonbury chanters or the Southport hate-tweeter – throw the book at one, you must throw it at them all, 1 July). However, whether the Glastonbury incident constituted a criminal offence or not, her lumping together of Bob Vylan and Lucy Connolly is a case of intellectual apples and pears. During last year's riots, people were actually attacking and attempting to burn alive asylum seekers in hotels. No one is in a position to attack the Israel Defense Forces, who are the ones allegedly committing war crimes – eg burning and blasting people to death in cafes populated by students on the shores of the Mediterranean – and a military force that our own government is still giving arms and intelligence assistance to. But I do take her point about how the criminalisation of these incidents sets 50% of the population against the other 50% – and I've probably just proved her HewittMarlborough, Wiltshire Marina Hyde is right. If this is still supposed to be a liberal democracy we must be very reluctant to lock people up for what they say, however hateful and offensive we find it. It is tragic that progressives have conceded the cause of free speech to their reactionary rivals, whose insincerity is breathtaking. Jonathan Allum Amersham, Buckinghamshire Ephraim Mirvis, the UK's chief rabbi, said Bob Vylan's appearance at Glastonbury was a 'national shame' (Allies of BBC chief Tim Davie fear latest controversy may damage his leadership, 1 July). I think that the Israeli government's treatment of the people of Gaza is a national shame for Israel. To echo Owen Jones (1 July), all the people getting aerated over Bob Vylan and not over the senseless, barbaric killing of civilians in Gaza have become detached from reality. Let's call it what it is – genocide. My mother, a Holocaust survivor, would be turning in her GripaiosHovingham, North Yorkshire There is much ado about 'appalling hate speech', as Keir Starmer put it. What troubles me more is the appalling hate SimpsonDurham Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
The Guardian
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Bob Vylan performance at Manchester festival cancelled amid Glastonbury row
Bob Vylan have been banned from playing a Manchester festival a day after they said they were being 'targeted for speaking up' on Palestine during a controversial Glastonbury set. The punk rap duo will no longer play the headline slot at Radar festival this weekend. The act is the subject of a police investigation for leading crowds in chants of 'death, death to the IDF', referring to the Israel Defense Forces. A statement posted on the festival's Instagram account said: 'Bob Vylan will not be appearing at Radar festival this weekend.' The headliner slot for Saturday now reads 'TBA' (to be announced) on the website of the festival, which takes place at Victoria Warehouse from Friday to Sunday. In response, the group shared the festival's statement on Instagram with the caption: 'Silence is not an option. We will be fine, the people of Palestine are hurting. Manchester we will be back.' The chant that sparked the furore was made by the band's frontman, Pascal Robinson-Foster, who goes by the alias Bobby Vylan, on stage at Glastonbury and streamed live on the BBC. The broadcaster later said the chant was 'antisemitic'. It was called 'appalling hate speech' by the government and 'vile Jew-hatred' by the UK's chief rabbi, Ephraim Mirvis. Bob Vylan, who formed in Ipswich in 2017, also had their US visas revoked in the aftermath of the performance. In a statement on Instagram, Bob Vylan said: 'We are not for the death of Jews, Arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine … A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.' They said they were 'a distraction from the story', adding: 'We are being targeted for speaking up.' By most estimates, since the war began the IDF has killed more than 50,000 Palestinians in Gaza – including hundreds of journalists and aid workers – with more than a third of the casualties thought to be children. Many thousands more have been injured. However, it is impossible to independently gather casualty figures as Israel does not allow foreign journalists into Gaza. The war began on 7 October 2023 when Hamas – a proscribed terror group in the UK – killed approximately 1,200 Israelis and took 251 others hostage. Bob Vylan are still expected to perform at the Boardmasters surfing and music festival in Newquay, Cornwall, in August.
NBC News
02-07-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan says it's being targeted for speaking up about Gaza at Glastonbury
LONDON — Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan on Tuesday rejected claims of antisemitism over onstage comments at the Glastonbury Festival that triggered a police investigation and sparked criticism from politicians, the BBC and festival organizers. The band said in a statement that it was being "targeted for speaking up" about the war in Gaza. Police are investigating whether a crime was committed when frontman Bob Vylan led the audience in chants of "Death to the IDF" — the Israel Defense Forces — during the band's set at the festival in southwest England on Saturday. The British government called the chants "appalling hate speech" and the BBC said it regretted livestreaming the "antisemitic sentiments." U.S. authorities revoked the musicians' visas. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has inflamed tensions around the world, triggering pro-Palestinian protests in many capitals and on college campuses. Israel and some supporters have described the protests as antisemitic, while critics say Israel uses such descriptions to silence opponents. In a statement on Instagram, Bob Vylan said: "We are not for the death of jews, arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. … A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza." Alleging that "we are a distraction from the story," the duo added: "We are being targeted for speaking up." The BBC is under pressure to explain why it did not cut the feed of the performance after the anti-IDF chants. Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said "the airing of vile Jew-hatred" by the BBC was a moment of "national shame." "It should trouble all decent people that now, one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary, for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it," he wrote on X. Avon and Somerset Police said it is investigating Bob Vylan's performance, along with that by Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap, whose pro-Palestinian stance has also attracted controversy. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged under Britain's Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last year. Since the war began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, Israel has killed more than 56,000 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
The Hindu
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan says it's being targeted for speaking up about Gaza at Glastonbury
Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) rejected claims of anti-semitism over onstage comments at the Glastonbury Festival that triggered a police investigation and sparked criticism from politicians, the BBC and festival organisers. The band said in a statement that it was being 'targeted for speaking up' about the war in Gaza. Police are investigating whether a crime was committed when frontman Bob Vylan led the audience in chants of 'Death to the IDF' — the Israel Defense Forces — during the band's set at the festival in southwest England on Saturday. The British government called the chants 'appalling hate speech' and the BBC said it regretted livestreaming the 'antisemitic sentiments.' U.S. authorities revoked the musicians' visas. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has inflamed tensions around the world, triggering pro-Palestinian protests in many capitals and on college campuses. Israel and some supporters have described the protests as antisemitic, while critics say Israel uses such descriptions to silence opponents. In a statement on Instagram, Bob Vylan said: 'We are not for the death of jews, arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. … A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.' Alleging that 'we are a distraction from the story,' the duo added: 'We are being targeted for speaking up.' The BBC is under pressure to explain why it did not cut the feed of the performance after the anti-IDF chants. Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said 'the airing of vile Jew-hatred' by the BBC was a moment of 'national shame.' 'It should trouble all decent people that now, one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary, for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it,' he wrote on X. Avon and Somerset Police said it is investigating Bob Vylan's performance, along with that by Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap, whose pro-Palestinian stance has also attracted controversy. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged under Britain's Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last year. Since the war began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, Israel has killed more than 56,000 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
New York Post
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
UK punk duo Bob Vylan claims it's being targeted for ‘speaking up' at Glastonbury – where group led ‘Death to the IDF' chants
Rap-punk duo Bob Vylan on Tuesday rejected claims of antisemitism over onstage comments at the Glastonbury Festival that triggered a police investigation and sparked criticism from politicians, the BBC and festival organizers. The band said in a statement that it was being 'targeted for speaking up' about the war in Gaza. Police are investigating whether a crime was committed when frontman Bob Vylan led the audience in chants of 'Death to the IDF' — the Israel Defense Forces — during the band's set at the festival in southwest England on Saturday. 4 The band said in a statement that it was being 'targeted for speaking up' about the war in Gaza. Bob Vylan/Facebook The British government called the chants 'appalling hate speech' and the BBC said it regretted livestreaming the 'antisemitic sentiments.' U.S. authorities revoked the musicians' visas. Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has inflamed tensions around the world, triggering pro-Palestinian protests in many capitals and on college campuses. Israel and some supporters have described the protests as antisemitic, while critics say Israel uses such descriptions to silence opponents. 4 The British government called the chants 'appalling hate speech' and the BBC said it regretted livestreaming the 'antisemitic sentiments.' PA Images via Getty Images In a statement on Instagram, Bob Vylan said: 'We are not for the death of jews, arabs or any other race or group of people. We are for the dismantling of a violent military machine. … A machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.' Alleging that 'we are a distraction from the story,' the duo added: 'We are being targeted for speaking up.' 4 Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza has inflamed tensions around the world, triggering pro-Palestinian protests in many capitals and on college campuses. Redferns The BBC is under pressure to explain why it did not cut the feed of the performance after the anti-IDF chants. Britain's Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis said 'the airing of vile Jew-hatred' by the BBC was a moment of 'national shame.' 'It should trouble all decent people that now, one need only couch their outright incitement to violence and hatred as edgy political commentary, for ordinary people to not only fail to see it for what it is, but also to cheer it, chant it and celebrate it,' he wrote on X. 4 The BBC is under pressure to explain why it did not cut the feed of the performance after the anti-IDF chants. AP Avon and Somerset Police said it is investigating Bob Vylan's performance, along with that by Irish-language hip-hop trio Kneecap, whose pro-Palestinian stance has also attracted controversy. Kneecap member Liam Óg Ó hAnnaidh has been charged under Britain's Terrorism Act with supporting a proscribed organization for allegedly waving a Hezbollah flag at a concert in London last year. Since the war began in October 2023 with a Hamas attack on Israel that killed some 1,200 people, Israel has killed more than 56,000 people in Gaza, according to the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory.
