Charlotte Church has come under fire for leading a 100-strong pro-Palestine choir featuring children in singing the antisemitic song From The River to Sea, which calls for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state. The Mail has the story.
Footage has emerged showing how the 38-year-old star led a choir in the protest chant at a Sing For Palestine event in Caerphilly, south Wales.
The song is deemed antisemitic and a direct call for the state of Israel to be destroyed.
The Welsh singer, draped in a keffiyeh scarf in solidarity with those in Palestine, was also caught singing Stop the Occupation as she attended the event at the Bedwas Workmen’s Hall on Saturday night.
The incident has sparked fury among people in the Jewish community, with the advocacy group the Campaign Against Antisemitism accusing her of using her “stardom to teach kids to sing extremist lyrics in a village hall”.
And Jewish MP Andrew Percy blasted the incident as “deeply concerning”, saying all who joined in Charlotte’s sing-along “should hang their heads in shame”.
The pop star has been outspoken in her support for the territory, having released an Instagram video in November calling for the “liberation of Palestine“.
During the event, which was attended by 150 people, Church told the crowd it was a “safe space to just breathe and sing and get it all out”, the Sun reports.
She then led a choir, which included some children, in a seven-minute rendition of the controversial song as part of her 40-minute set.
Church was given a bottle of champagne at the end of the event, which was being held to raise money for the Middle East Children’s Alliance charity.
It has sparked calls from the Campaign Against Antisemitism for an investigation by the Charity Commission.
The organisation told MailOnline: “The genocidal chant ‘From the River to the Sea’ refers to the Jordan River and Mediterranean Sea, and only makes sense as a call for the destruction of the world’s only Jewish state – and its replacement with a Palestinian state. It is a call for the annihilation of half the world’s Jews, who live in Israel.
“Since 7th October, when Hamas committed their barbaric terrorist acts, we have heard this chant on the streets of Britain during anti-Israel marches, accompanied by all manner of anti-Jewish racism.
“Singing ‘From the River to the Sea’ is not standing up for human rights. At best Charlotte Church has been tone deaf, but at worst she is using the voice for which she is so well known to fan the flames of hatred. You cannot stoop lower than using your stardom to teach kids to sing extremist lyrics in a village hall.
“We will be writing to the Charity Commission to ask them to investigate how this was allowed to take place on a charity’s premises.”
Worth reading in full.
Church has since insisted she is “in no way antisemitic” and claimed the song is “calling for peaceful coexistence”. Erm, she may want to check that with Hamas.
To join in with the discussion please make a donation to The Daily Sceptic.
Profanity and abuse will be removed and may lead to a permanent ban.