>Bob Vylan, would, I’m sure, say no – indeed their statement today, says that they are not advocating the ‘death of Jews, Arabs or any other group of people.’ But rather their anger was aimed towards the State of Israel and the ‘violent military machine that has destroyed much of Gaza.’ This brings up the political and social grenade that is whether criticising Israel or any arm of the state of Israel is prima-facie an anti-semitic statement and therefore could be deemed racist for the purpose of the Act.
No it doesn't. It'd be limited to whether he intended to stir up racial hatred, or whether racial hatred was likely to be stirred up by using the phrase “Death to the IDF”. A case would be limited to this point alone.
>As such, a jury might not be particularly inclined to conclude that a statement made by a punk band, designed to attack the IDF, which makes no reference to Jews or Jewish tropes or stereotypes, is a racial statement as opposed to a political one.
Certainly, he can argue that in defence. However, you're the side always banging on about dog whistles. A jury could certainly draw the conclusion that he wasn't merely calling for the dissolution of a military organization, especially when taken together with everything else he said that day plus things he's said in the past such as “violence is the only language that some people understand”. You people supported these laws. Don't sob when they're used against your own.