Labour’s Wes Streeting tells Israel to ‘get its own house in order’ following Glastonbury criticism

The criticism comes following Kneecap's and Bob Vylan's performances.

Controversy arose following Bob Vylan and Kneecaps' sets yesterday as pro-Palestinian chants were heard throughout, along with choice words for PM Keir Starmer.

Speaking on Sky News, Streeting condemned the chanting but urged Israel to take care of its own matters first.

He said: "I thought it was appalling to be honest and I think the BBC and Glastonbury have got some questions to answer about how we saw such a spectacle on our screens."

Streeting added that the focus should not necessarily be on the outrage caused by these artists but on the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestine.

He continued: "What we should be talking about this week, in the context of Israel and Gaza, is the fact that Israeli settler terrorists attacked a Christian village this week, setting it on fire.

"I met the Red Cross and Red Crescent this week, talking about not just the humanitarian tragedy today but the risk of the spread of disease over the summer and famine in the autumn."

Streeting continued: "Whether it's a Palestinian or an Israeli, whether it's a Christian, a Jew or a Muslim, all life is precious, all life is sacred.

"I find it pretty revolting that we've got to a state in this conflict where you're supposed to cheer on one side or the other."

The Israeli embassy released a statement saying it was "deeply disturbed" by some of the chants led at Glastonbury, particularly Bob Vylan's "Death, death to the IDF!"

They said: "When such messages are delivered before tens of thousands of festivalgoers and met with applause, it raises serious concerns about the normalisation of extremist language and the glorification of violence."

Speaking about this, Streeting said: "I'd also say to the Israeli embassy, get your own house in order in terms of the conduct of your own citizens and the settlers in the West Bank.

"I think there's a serious point there by the Israeli embassy [that] I take seriously.

"I wish they'd take the violence of their own citizens towards Palestinians more seriously."