Glastonbury and the State of the UK

In late June, it was not just the entire English world that was up in arms about what happened at the Glastonbury Festival this year.

A rapper named Bob Vylan strutted around the stage like a peacock, chanting “Death, Death to the IDF” (the Israeli Defense Forces) as if there were no tomorrow.

His real name is Pascal Robinson-Foster. He has previously worked in mentoring young people.

From Glastonbury, back to the times of the Vietnam War

I remember marching with millions against the Vietnam War. The chant back then was “Ho, Ho, Ho Chi Minh. We shall fight and we shall win!”

Make no mistake about it: We were calling for the victory of a murderous, torturing regime — a regime, moreover, that had put my own father-in-law, a harmless apolitical man, in a concentration camp — artfully called a “re-education camp” — in the Ha Long Bay Area for four years.

Like it or not, Israel and the IDF have been responsible for the deaths of many thousands of innocent Palestinian women and children in their bid to eradicate Hamas after the October 7 massacre. There is no definition of antisemitism I know of that bans criticism of Israel and its military for the killing of unarmed women and children.

Wise words on a very touchy subject

In this context, it is worth recalling what Chris Patten, former Chancellor of the University of Oxford, one-time EU Commissioner and a former diplomat long known for his moderation and measured stance, recently said:

“I’m very careful what I say about Israel, because if you cross an imperceptible line, you risk being accused of antisemitism. But I don’t think it’s antisemitic to criticise Netanyahu. I don’t think it’s antisemitic to criticise the way Palestinians have been treated in Gaza and the West Bank. I don’t think it’s in Israel’s interest to treat them that way, because the only solution to the Israel–Palestine conflict is two states…”

The global perspective

As for myself, let me just note that I wrote a book 15 years ago “Globalizing Hatred: The New Antisemitism” and generally count myself as a supporter of Israel and Jewish causes.

As a cross-check that goes well beyond the remit of the ins and outs of contemporary English culture, also ask yourself this question: In light of the daily murderous actions perpetrated by Vladimir Putin and his ilk, would I object if someone at Glastonbury had cried death to Russian invading soldiers killing innocent women and children?

Let Glastonbury be Glastonbury

No question, the Pascal Robinson-Foster episode, in all its cockiness, was ugly and inflammatory. At the same time, Glastonbury is by tradition a space where passionate feelings can be expressed.

It is known to be raucous, noisy and offensive to some — and, this time, definitely to many. But I doubt if any IDF soldier’s life is in danger because of this rapping moron.

The BBC: Object of a national spectator hate sport

What about another cultural feature of the contemporary UK — all the BBC haters? They were surely all out in force. Indeed, attacking the BBC has become as much of a national spectator hate sport as denouncing the IDF. There are no winners, only losers in this episode.

The police are investigating what was said by both the “Death to the IDF” man and a Belfast rapper who is said to have a waved a Hezbollah flag.

Promoting antisemitism?

The UK Chief Rabbi who has never uttered a half-word of criticism of anything Netanyahu has said has, however, accused the BBC of promoting antisemitism.

He cites that chants heard at demos “From the River to the Sea, Palestine Shall be Free” as proof of the BBC’s antisemitism.

The irony

I have to admit, I’m lost. As Thomas B. Macaulay said: “We know no spectacle so ridiculous as the British public in one of its periodical fits of morality.”

The rappers are pathetic, but the real question is: What is happening on the ground to human beings in Gaza?