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Former Sex Pistol John Lydon defends Israel and calls Hamas ‘just Jew exterminators’
The musician defied criticism when he played in Tel Aviv with his band Public Image Ltd in 2010
April 7, 2025 11:33
The musician defied criticism when he played in Tel Aviv with his band Public Image Ltd in 2010
April 7, 2025 11:33Punk icon John Lydon has spoken out in support of Israel, defended the country against a cultural boycott, and called Hamas “just Jew exterminators” in an interview with an Irish newspaper.
The former lead singer for the Sex Pistols defied criticism when he played in Tel Aviv with his band Public Image Ltd back in 2010. When asked by the Irish Independent if he would play Israel again, the star who was known onstage as Johnny Rotten, and has Irish heritage, said, “I played to real human beings, not a bunch of politicians. At that time, there were a lot of Arab nationals and they get the same rights as a Jew. The country is more mixed than you’re led to believe, it’s not just ‘Jews only’, far from it. There were lots of Muslims in the audience when I played there. That was special because no Muslim nation has invited me, not ever.”
When asked if he can see why people might find his performance in Israel unacceptable, he told journalist Pat Carty, “Unacceptable that you would find it unacceptable because you’re working on what you’ve been told rather than what you found out for yourself. The education system turns people indoctrinated rather than educated and they all seem to be flowing this one poisonous way that does not accept freedom of differences of thought. If you want diversity, accept diverse opinions, then talk about what is right or wrong.”
On the topic of the AI-generated video clip Trump posted on his social media platform Truth Social in February – depicting lavish resorts, beachside parties and luxury yachts in a reimagined Gaza Strip, Lydon said that commerce could be a good possibility for its citizens, that could “end the troubles”. He added, “Hamas are basically just Jew exterminators, that’s their only real purpose, they don’t correct the environment for its citizens.”
Before his Tel Aviv show in 2010, he told The Independent: “I really resent the presumption that I'm going there to play to right-wing Nazi Jews. If Elvis f***ing Costello wants to pull out of a gig in Israel because he's suddenly got this compassion for Palestinians, then good on him. But I have absolutely one rule, right? Until I see an Arab country, a Muslim country, with a democracy, I won't understand how anyone can have a problem with how they're treated.”
Lydon has also previously attacked “left-wing” critics of Israel who compare the country to a “fascist state”, and urged them to remember the lessons of the Holocaust.
“Why should Israelis be denied the privilege of hearing us?” he said. “PiL has a ‘mosque-y’ song called Four Enclosed Walls and the refrain goes ‘Allah, Allah’. It was wonderful to see Jews and Arabs singing along together.
“That is more of a step towards world peace than left-wing students calling the Jewish state a fascist regime. Really? Have we forgotten World War Two that quickly?
“Never forget the Holocaust. Some bad people tried to exterminate an entire race of human beings.”
Lydon’s co-founder of PiL, the late guitarist Keith Levene, was born in Muswell Hill to a Jewish father – a tailor called Harry Levene.
Other musicians who have defended their decision to perform in Israel include Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, who last year put out a statement about his refusal to give in to the BDS movement’s pressure to cancel his tour with the Israeli Mizrachi musician Dudu Tassa, and criticised their call as “unprogressive”.
The pro-Palestine movement threatened rock band Radiohead, following a performance of Greenwood with Tassa at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club which concert-goers said also included calls for peace. The guitarist’s appearance came the day after being seen at protests in Tel Aviv, calling for the release of the hostages in Gaza and for new elections in Israel.
In his statement on X, Greenwood said: “Others choose to believe this kind of project is unjustifiable and are urging the silence of this – or any – artistic effort made by Israeli Jews. But I can’t join that call: The silencing of Israeli filmmakers/musicians/dancers when their work tours abroad – especially when it’s at the urging of their fellow western filmmakers/musicians/artists – feels unprogressive to me, not least because it’s these people that are invariably the most progressive members of any society.”