Young Fathers: Where They Stand on Israel

This page records specific public conduct. It does not claim knowledge of private beliefs or motives.

Documented record

• June 13, 2018: On June 13, 2018, Mercury Prize-winning Scottish band Young Fathers were dropped from the lineup of Germany's Ruhrtriennale festival after refusing the festival's demand that they publicly disavow the BDS movement, with the band instead declaring their support for BDS as one of "the only peaceful protests a person can take." We support one of the only peaceful protests a person can take, in the hope to achieve a just and comprehensive peace that allows Palestinian refugees the right to return to a safe homeland, and that allows Israelis and Palestinians of all faiths (and none) to live together in peace. Source 1 Source 2

Context and response

The band stated: "Anyone who knows the band and our history will know we oppose all forms of hatred and racial discrimination. Always have," and separately quoted BDS's own language that it does "not tolerate any act or discourse which adopts or promotes... anti-Semitism." The full quote also expresses hope that a resulting peace would allow "Israelis and Palestinians of all faiths (and none) to live together in peace" — a coexistence aspiration, though not an acknowledgment of Israeli security concerns or condemnation of any violence.

Where Galil stands

Our opinion: We don't share a stage, digitally or otherwise, with acts that publicly choose the Israel-boycott campaign over a festival booking — that's a call they're entitled to make, and one we're entitled to note.

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Sources manually reviewed 2026-07-27. Corrections and later context will be appended to this page.