Not an unusual state for me to be in. The Chief rabbi has said that the anti-jewish comments at Glastonbury were a national shame. From what I have seen the chants were about the IDF, not Jews. I do not consider myself anti-semitic, but if wishing for the death of the IDF as a fightighting force, then I guess I am! The Chief Rabbi needs to be careful – equating the IDF with Jews will agravate the growth of anti-semetism in the wider society. The narrative that Israel is protecting its borders has long passed – members of the Israeli cabinet have called for genocide and the death of all male Palestinians.
I wonder how many Germans actually hated or even felt any animosity to the jews? The public is easily swayed and develop a herd mentality. We have seen it with Brexit and now with Reform. Nationalism takes a putrid form when mobilised – it becomes racist and homophobic, anti-semetic and misogynist. It does not follow logic or factual realities – just the instinct of the bully and the lowest common denominator. The comments of Eavis was correct in condemning hate speech but also emphasising the love, peace and goodwill aspects of the festival. The BBC will continue to be castigated by all sides. Unfortunately it has lost any moral superiority with the blatent political appointment leaders during the Johnson era and later.
I am reminded of Edmund Burkes quote The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. Is what the IDF are doing to Palestinians in Gaza and on the West Bank EVIL? Can there even be doubt on this? And yet not only Netanyahu and Trump are supporting their blatent discrimination, but members of our government to, upto and including Keir Starmer.