GAZA WAR OF WORDS

'Death, death to IDF' artist

- JANE HAYNES News Reporter

A CONTROVERSIAL two-metre wide artwork proclaiming “Death, death to the IDF” appeared in the heart of Balsall Heath in an echo of the chants led by punk-rap duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury.

The grafitti attacking the actions of Israel’s army, known as the Israeli Defence Force, in the Gaza crisis sprang up overnight on Thursday, close to Joseph Chamberlain College.

It featured an image of Bob Vylan’s lead singer alongside the slogan that landed the musician in the mire after he led the Glastonbury crowd in several chants at the weekend.

But within hours the unsigned artwork was gone, painted over in grey.

The Birmingham Mail has spoken to the artist, speaking on condition of anonymity, and a Jewish community leader, also speaking anonymously, about the toxic phrase and why it has inflamed passions locally.

The artist said they created the artwork to show support for the Bob Vylan duo's right to self-expression and free speech and to spotlight the deathly toll in Gaza, amid claims Israeli forces were killing indiscriminately, which Israel denies.

They vowed to put the slogan up again elsewhere in the city.