Punk Rock Legend ‘Johnny Rotten’ Defends Israel, Says Hamas are ‘Jew Exterminators’

“Hamas are basically just Jew exterminators; that’s their only real purpose. They don’t correct the environment for its citizens.”

By Shula Rosen, United with Israel

Punk rock legend John Lydon, popularly known as “Johnny Rotten,” defended Israel in an interview with an Irish newspaper and referred to Hamas as “just Jew exterminators.”

Regarding anti-Israel cultural boycotts, the British rocker, who has Irish heritage, told the Irish Independent that when he was in Israel, “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 journalist Pat Carty asked Lydon if he understood why some consider performing in Israel unacceptable, he replied, “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.”

Although many in the arts and entertainment world decried US President Donald Trump’s plan to rebuild Gaza, Lydon said such a proposal might “end the troubles” and help Palestinians rid themselves of Hamas.

“Hamas are basically just Jew exterminators, that’s their only real purpose. They don’t correct the environment for its citizens,” he said.

The former Sex Pistols frontman caused a stir among the anti-Israel cultural establishment in the UK and Ireland when he and his band, Public Image Ltd, performed in Israel in 2010.

He told The Independent in 2010 that if Elvis Costello wanted to avoid performing in Israel, that was his personal decision, “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 [in Israel].”

At that time, Lydon criticized anti-Israel boycotters for forgetting about the Holocaust. “Have we forgotten World War Two that quickly? Never forget the Holocaust. Some bad people tried to exterminate an entire race of human beings,” he said.

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