British rapper Bob Vylan set off a firestorm last week at a major outdoor rock festival in the UK by adding his own chant to the now familiar “Free Free Palestine”. He surprised the audience by shouting “Death, death to the IDF”. Tens of thousands of festival goers, many waving Palestinian flags, roared their approval. A debate has erupted in the UK. Is it antisemitic? Read more…
The image is striking, Rapper Bob Vylain striding across the stage shouting “Death, death to the IDF” while the huge crowd repeats back the same slogan lustily.
The slogan clearly shocked many – as it was intended to do. Vylan was immediately accused of antisemitism by Zionist organizations. The BBC as a co-sponsor of the festival which played the set live on line came under immediate attack and was forced to apologize.
British politicians were on the spot as crowd’s response to the aggressive chant appeared to reflect that Israel’s genocide is gaining public attention in Britain – and putting the complicity of the British government under the spotlight.
When the Israeli embassy publicly criticized Vylan’s call for violence against its armed forces, UK Health secretary Wes Streeting called on Israel in a televised interview to get “its own house in order” pointing to the attacks by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank under the protection of the IDF.
Vylan already had a reputation for being disruptive. A black English rapper based in London, his work includes elements of punk, and hip hop, often featuring abrasive criticisms of the British establishment, inequality, racism, sexism, and homophobia.
But the British establishment wing now is worried about his message which is now going viral on social media. It is out in full force to “get” him.
“There is no excuse for this kind of appalling hate speech,” said UK Prime Minister Starmer, the next day. Local police announced that “video evidence will be assessed whether any offences have been committed that would require a criminal investigation.”
Pushback
But the more they attack him the more the message spreads. A relatively unknown rapper has gone viral.
And the apparent hypocrisy of a Prime Minister more worried about a rapper’s words than Israeli bullets angered many. “The real crimes are taking place in Gaza and the West Bank, not in Gladstonebury”, wrote British journalist Jonathan Cook (who lived for many years in Israel and holds dual UK-Israeli citizenship.)
‘Death to the IDF’ is not antisemitic. Reserve your outrage for Israeli crimes in Gaza’, said Joe Gill in a short video posted by Middle East Eye. “No one was hurt by the chant, contrasting the media uproar over Vylan’s words with silence on the Israeli army’s conduct.“
Gill cited an explosive story in the Israeli daily Haaretz with testimony from IDF soldiers “that they were ordered to fire at unarmed Palestinians seeking food.“
Graffiti with the chant “death death to the IDF” has now spread like wildfire across Britain and Europe, appearing in subway halls and underpasses.
Is peace enough?
The common call from human rights groups in Western society has been for “peace” and an end to the genocide. But the rapid adoption of this new shocking slogan reflects a seething anger across many layers of society.
“Death, death to the IDF” appears to be a response to visual images of “Death, death by the IDF” as it cruelly and pitilessly kills Palestinians through starving them, shooting them, bombing them and even attacking their health facilities.
It reflects a growing feeling that the IDF is a killing maching that has to be dismantled completely and that its soldiers (not just the leaders) must face criminal courts for their war crimes.
Canada Talks Israel Palestine (CTIP) is the weekly newsletter of Peter Larson, Chair of the Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine (OFIP). It aims to promote a serious discussion in Canada about Canada’s response to the complicated and emotional Israel/Palestine issue with a focus on the truth, clear analysis and human rights for all. Readers with different points of view are invited to make comment.
Want to learn more about us? Go to Ottawa Forum on Israel/Palestine.ca
Canada Talks Israel/Palestine 
I still like.. Israel and USA, How many kids have you killed today? Because its an interrogative its safer..
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That slogan is reminiscent of one used a half century ago. It hasn’t lost its ring. However, who are we to tell rappers what words to use?
Super Peter Larson that you’ve put this together!
Ever since I’ve been on your newsletter list for some time now and
avoiding the pay to play political mantra wondering how I could catch
your attention whereby through some collaboration much more would be
possible and in the end with much less effort.
Punk rock is way outside my genre of music that I attend to, but have
taken notice for the last many days of this issue and much appreciate
you putting together a range of evidence-based arguments that all add up
to a number of “establishment entities” must get their own house in
order before they critique this rapper!
I have in the past and particularly with this one will distribute
further, but also encourage you to take note of the following to current
day possibilities.
I) Reviewing elections Canada website regarding the upcoming August 18
by-election, basis her own information a long time Tory is fed up with
the CON leadership antics and has already initiated the steps to contest
Pierre Poilievre’s yellow dog bid parachute candidacy.
For me it’s a no-brainer to support her and have already made a $400
political contribution ($300 tax refund) as every secret ballot vote for
her screams rather loudly the CPC needs to find a leader fitting to meet
the criteria of being a a credible government in waiting. I’m taking
steps to encourage friends across Canada to help her get the word out
and encourage you to do the same
Her site is available at https://www.bonniecritchleyindependent.com
She landed a highly informative national post interview. Meet the
military trailblazer who’s gunning for Pierre Poilievre
https://nationalpost.com/news/canada/meet-the-military-trailblazer-whos-gunning-for-pierre-poilievre-in-rural-alberta
I also provided Bonnie with two US examples that might provide her with
some encouragement to also give voice to ending the genocide in Gaza
when it’s becoming ever clearer that talk of mutiny in the US military
is becoming a possibility to end Trump’s rule and through her candidacy
we too can be closer to a Canada free of Pierre Poilievre and Mark Carney.
Calls to GI Hotlines Rise as Service Members Consider Defying Trump’s Orders
Conscientious objector applications surge under Trump as military
members fear becoming “the saber that he’s rattling.”
https://truthout.org/articles/calls-to-gi-hotlines-rise-as-service-members-consider-defying-trumps-orders/
In Gaza, Aid Is a Tracking Device Distributed by People With Guns and Drones
Hunger in Gaza isn’t accidental — it’s managed. It’s enforced. And now,
aid is being militarized.
https://truthout.org/articles/in-gaza-aid-is-a-tracking-device-distributed-by-people-with-guns-and-drones
2) In case Yves Engler is not on your radar, his newsletters are
available at
https://yvesengler.com/2025/
After The Maple’s escalating successive news breaks one of Yves’ best
evidence-based comprehensive pieces is as follows
Demand Canadian law be upheld over Gaza war crimes – Yves Engler
Although he too recognizes it as a longshot, just today he made the
following announcement Why I’m running for leadership of NDP – Yves Engler
A much weaker article but perhaps still further new information on but
another faux grassroots political activist group
Unmasking NATO Front: Young Politicians of Canada – Yves Engler
Peter, in conclusion I invite you to review these matters and yours from
the perspective that through the vote123 ranked ballot citizens group
initiative, it can be very possible that in the very next election we
replace a number of highly deaf eared political party partisans
lawmakers by genuine Canadians intent upon truth and social justice
issues outweighing the political expediency’s of our current crop of
political leaders.
Best as we the people together actually have the elbow grease and
wherewithal to assert a much more functional democratic and peaceful
self-governing democracy
Eduard
of course Bob Vylan’s rap is anti-semitic because the Jewish establishment says so. It is also a courageous act of peaceful resistance to warm crimes and genocide that most of our political leaders are determined to allow to continue. Resistance is a moral imperative.
thank you for stating this. I agree completely
After talking to numerous Palestinians living in the Occupied West Bank and hearing the terror caused by IDF raids, killings, and arrests, I came to the conclusion that the IDF satisfies my definition of a terrorist group (a group that uses violence and intimidation, especially against civilians, in the pursuit of political aims).
Many of the members of that group have committed acts that are violent criminal acts but are still considered heroes by many Israelis. For example, a few years ago, an IDF soldier about to leave the area, took his rifle and shot a Palestinian who was wounded and lying motionless on the ground. Other soldiers had checked that that the wounded man had no arms or explosives. The soldier was arrested, tried, and found guilty. However, a public campaign objected – calling the perpetrator of this cowardly act a hero – and he was eventually released and continued his military career. Incidents like this, among many others, leave no doubt that the IDF is a terrorist group.
However, I would not recite that chant. There are a few IDF soldiers who have refused to perform terroristic acts and spoken out. Every IDF soldier (like every Palestinian) is entitled to an objective fair trial. I suspect that the majority of them would be found guilty by a neutral court, but we should not condemn all of them. We should praise the few honourable ones and imprison the rest.