Antisemitism Rises Sharply in UK Following Glastonbury Controversy
UK sees sharp rise in antisemitic incidents following controversial Glastonbury performance. Police investigate rapper's anti-IDF chant as Jewish watchdog reports concerning trend.
A sharp uptick in antisemitic incidents across the UK has been reported in the wake of a controversial performance at this year's Glastonbury Festival, where a rapper called for “death to the IDF” during a live set.
The Community Security Trust (CST), a UK-based Jewish watchdog group, said this Wednesday that it had recorded 1,521 antisemitic incidents in the first half of 2025, marking the second-highest mid-year figure ever logged, though slightly lower than 2024’s record.
The surge came shortly after a performance by British duo Bob Vylan on June 28, during which frontman Bobby Vylan chanted the phrase “Death, death to the IDF” while performing in front of a Palestinian flag. The statement, referencing the Israel Defense Forces, has sparked widespread backlash and is now under police investigation.
In its mid-year report, CST said the episode exemplifies how anti-Israel rhetoric often spills into anti-Jewish sentiment. “Both of these cases illustrate how sentiment and rhetoric towards Israel and Zionism influence, shape and drive contemporary anti-Jewish discourse,” the organization noted.
While the group emphasized its efforts to separate legitimate criticism of Israeli policy from antisemitism, it added that statements comparing Israel to Nazi Germany are typically logged as antisemitic due to the deeply offensive nature of the analogy.
UK Home Secretary Yvette Cooper condemned the ongoing trend, saying, “Antisemitic incidents and crimes remain shamefully and persistently high, and every incident has a profoundly damaging impact both on the individuals affected and the wider Jewish community.”
A police spokesperson confirmed that the incident remains under review.