'Time of national shame': Chief rabbi condemns BBC's 'mishandled response' to anti-IDF chanting at Glastonbury

The main rabbi has described the BBC's effect to anti-IDF chanting astatine Glastonbury arsenic "belated and mishandled" - aft the civilization caput claimed determination is simply a "problem of leadership" astatine the nationalist broadcaster.

Sir Ephraim Mirvis said "vile Jew-hatred" had been aired astatine the Somerset euphony festival and it was a "time of nationalist shame".

Confidence successful the BBC's "ability to dainty antisemitism seriously" has been brought to a "new low", helium added successful a station connected X.

And helium said that "outright incitement to unit and hatred" appeared to beryllium acceptable if it was couched arsenic "edgy governmental commentary".

Ordinary radical had not lone failed to spot incitement "for what it is" but had cheered it, chanted it, and celebrated it, helium said.

"Toxic Jew-hatred is simply a menace to our full society," helium added.

Tim Davie, the BBC's director-general, was astatine Glastonbury erstwhile punk rap duo Bob Vylan led chants of "Death to the IDF (Israel Defence Forces)" which were broadcast live, it has emerged.

Speaking successful the Commons, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy said "accountability" was important and it was thing she had "impressed upon the BBC leadership".

She added: "When you person 1 editorial failure, it's thing that indispensable beryllium gripped. When you person several, it becomes a occupation of leadership."

She said she'd called Mr Davie aft Bob Vylan's acceptable had been broadcast to find retired wherefore it had aired, and wherefore the provender had not been cut.

"I expect answers to these questions without delay," she said.

Avon and Somerset Police has begun a transgression probe and is reviewing footage of some Bob Vylan and Kneecap's performances astatine Glastonbury.

The unit said a elder detective had been appointed - and it had been contacted by radical from astir the world.

"We... recognise the spot of nationalist feeling," it said.

During Kneecap's set, 1 subordinate suggested starting a "riot" extracurricular his bandmate's forthcoming tribunal appearance, earlier clarifying that helium meant "support".

Bob Vylan's US visas person been revoked. They had been owed to spell connected tour.

US lawman caput of authorities Christopher Landau said enactment had been taken "in airy of their hateful tirade astatine Glastonbury, including starring the assemblage successful decease chants".

"Foreigners who glorify unit and hatred are not invited visitors to our country," helium added.

Bob Vylan person besides been dropped by United Talent Agency, their US representatives.

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During Bob Vylan's set, the duo performed successful beforehand of a surface that showed respective messages, including 1 that claimed Israel's actions successful Gaza amounted to "genocide".

The warfare successful Gaza began aft Hamas militants attacked Israel connected 7 October 2023 and killed 1,200 radical and took astir 250 hostage.

Israel's violative successful Gaza has led to the deaths of much than 56,500 people, according to the Hamas-run wellness ministry, which does not differentiate betwixt civilians and combatants.

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Media watchdog Ofcom has said the BBC "clearly has questions to answer" implicit the unrecorded watercourse from Glastonbury.

A BBC spokesperson said: "The director-general was informed of the incidental aft the show and astatine that constituent helium was wide it should not diagnostic successful immoderate different Glastonbury coverage."

The broadcaster respects state of look but "stands firmly against incitement to violence", they said.

They added: "The antisemitic sentiments expressed by Bob Vylan were utterly unacceptable and person nary spot connected our airwaves...

"The squad were dealing with a unrecorded situation, but with hindsight we should person pulled the watercourse during the performance. We regret this did not happen."