Glastonbury - festival of hate

Antisemitic poison all over the place

I was at dinner on Saturday night so I managed to avoid Glastonbury, the Festival of Hate. But there was no avoiding it the next day on Twitter/X. The pro – Palestinian, anti – Israel Hatefest climaxing with some rapper Bob Vylan (whose existence until now, I was happily unaware of) chanting Death to the IDF, to a crowd of tens of thousands.

Yes it’s a criminal offence and I’ll tell you why later.

A few things first. I would like to file all of this under youthful rebellion but that would be a mistake. In my day being rebellious meant listening to Greenday or the other one Kurt Cobain. It didn’t mean standing in a field in Somerset, England and painting a target on the backs of Israelis everywhere by chanting Death to the IDF.

And I say Israeli because as every fool should know the Israeli Defence Force is not like other European armies. You don’t have to serve in the British army. You have a choice to join.

The vast majority of Israelis must serve in the IDF. The State of Israel requires every Israeli citizen over the age of 18 who is Jewish, Druze or Circassian to serve in the IDF. Therefore when you chant death to the IDF, you are calling for the death of Israelis and Jews. But then Bob Vylan knows that. We know that. He knows that we know that. And the CPS should know that.

Previously I wrote a blog against free speech absolutism. I said “if you think it should be perfectly legal to march through Golders Green in London waving a Hezbollah or Hamas flag then you do you, but I’m not joining you. Or if you think it is absolutely fine to tweet videos comparing Jews to rats and vermin go and say that. Resurrect the spirit of Joseph Goebbels but understand that I will be protesting your right to spread antisemitic poison.” I stand by every single word of that piece.

The spirit of Goebbels was alive in that field in Somerset was it not? Antisemitic poison being spread all over the place, a reheated Nuremberg Rally all beamed into your sitting room courtesy of the BBC. I was so depressed thinking about it on Sunday evening I had to retire to the piano. You may call this hyperbole. I disagree

For months now the streets of London have been taken over by pro Palestine marches demanding Free Palestine. Do they mean free it from Hamas, the terrorist group that carried out the crimes against humanity that was Oct 7^th and then brought the entire house down on top of the people of Gaza? No. It was Free Palestine from the river to the sea – and we all know what that means. Get rid of the Jews.

At least with the London marches the BBC didn’t beam into your flipping sitting room. But that’s what we got with the Festival of Hate. Bob Vylan (who was dressed for Wimbledon) taunted you ‘Heard you want your country back, STFU’ ‘Heard you want your country back, no you can’t have that.’

You should believe them when they tell it to your face. Vylan went on to chant Death to the IDF. Next year, they’ll be chanting death to the RAF and the crowd will love it. There is a sickness, a deep self-hating sickness on the left of the country. It is dangerous as well as depressing to see.

(Chartwell, Churchill’s country residence now run by the National Trust. The British stood alone against Nazi Germany. Now they chant death to the IDF in Somerset.)

Now the legal part. Yes Mr Vylan should be charged with an offence, just like Lucy Connolly was. You do not need to be a lawyer to understand the following – the words mean what they say.

S. 18 of the Public Order Act 1986 prohibits the use of words or behaviour intending to stir up racial hatred.

(1) A person who uses threatening, abusive or insulting words or behaviour …is guilty of an offence if—

(a) he intends thereby to stir up racial hatred, or

(b) having regard to all the circumstances racial hatred is likely to be stirred up thereby.

Chanting death to the IDF is at the very least insulting and threatening words. In the circumstances these words are likely to stir up racial hatred against Jews. The CPS does not even have to prove direct intention by Mr Vylan – it’s an objective test.

In addition, for the avoidance of doubt, section 17 defines “racial hatred” as hatred against a group of persons . . . defined by reference to colour, race, nationality (including citizenship) or ethnic or national origins.

The IDF, unlike most European armies, is NOT a volunteer army. As I explained above it is based on citizenship and Jewish ethnicity. The State of Israel requires every Israeli citizen over the age of 18 who is Jewish, Druze or Circassian to serve in the IDF. So there is your legal advice – all done pro bono.

Lucy Connolly was charged with section 19 of the Public Order Act 1986, a very close offence. She is – as we speak – serving her 31 months in prison for a tweet.

Offences under this part of the Act must be signed off by the Attorney – General Lord Hermer KC. That’s interesting. So let’s see what decision is made under the regime of Two – Tier Keir. On Friday AG Lord Hermer KC said that the accusation of Two Tier policing was ‘disgusting.’ Okey dokey, Lord Hermer KC. It’s over to you.

The mainstream media will be busy memory holing this entire event. Can you imagine the media hysteria, the absolute wall to wall coverage, the talking heads, the weeping and gnashing of teeth that would occur if this was some ‘right wing festival’ and some bloke got up and chanted death to Hamas say, even though it is a proscribed terrorist organisation.

I won’t even type the equivalent of chants of death to the IDF, but I’ll tell you now we would be told that fascism was on the rise. That the Far Right Thugs were a real and present danger to democracy and our way of life. We would be told not to let them divide us and diversity was our strength. We would be told that we are two steps away from the concentration camps.

That’s what sickens me. For 20 years anyone who proposed even mild limits on the open border mania that has gripped Europe and Britain were told they were fascists and Nazis.

Turns out those who made that comparison the loudest and the longest are the most anti – Israeli of them all. It was never about fighting fascism – it was about pushing their open border agenda that has fundamentally transformed Britain for the worst. The fact that Israel is willing to stand up to them, is what enrages them the most.

This is how it works for the pro – Palestine crowd. Palestine should be free! Death to the IDF! Globalise the Intifada!

Trump – here is your solution, Gazans can be free and live in peace elsewhere in the Middle – East and Palestine can be free of Hamas.

Pro – Palestine crowd. “I don’t want Gazans to be free and at peace – I want Death to the IDF! Globalise the Intifada!” That’s the end game.

Believe them when they chant it to your face and it’s broadcast on live TV. You said you want your country back? STFU, you can’t have that.

Have a great Monday.