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Oxford Union to debate ‘Israel is an apartheid state responsible for genocide’

November 27, 2024 at 2:21 pm

Pro-Palestinian activists take part in a National March for Palestine to call for a permanent ceasefire in Gaza on 9th December 2023 in London, United Kingdom. [Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images]

The Oxford Union at Oxford University, one of Britain’s most prestigious debating societies, will host a debate on 28 November titled, “This House Believes Israel is an Apartheid State Responsible for Genocide”.

The debate comes on the back of arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Israel is also under investigation by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for genocide, while also being accused of committing the crime of apartheid by major human rights organisations B’Tselem, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

The debate is said to feature prominent critics of Israel, including US political scientist Norman Finkelstein, Israeli-American activist Miko Peled, Palestinian-American author Susan Abulhawa and Palestinian writer Mohammed El-Kurd. They will face British barrister Natasha Hausdorff and journalist Jonathan Sacerdoti from i24 News, according to the Times of Israel.

The motion has sparked heated exchanges between the Union and pro-Israel figures. Gerald Steinberg, founder of the notorious NGO Monitor, rejected an invitation to participate, accusing the Union of “singling out Israel for demonisation” and contributing to “poisonous hatred.” In an open letter, Steinberg challenged the Union to address what he described as an “ugly display of abusive power” directed against Jewish students at Oxford.

The Oxford Union defended its decision to proceed with the debate, citing its “core principles of free speech and open debate.” In its response to Steinberg’s criticism, the Union emphasised its commitment to discussing “the most pressing issues of our time” and pointed to reports by the United Nations, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International regarding Israel’s actions which they argue is consistent with a state practicing apartheid.

The debate follows previous discussions in the Oxford Union on Israel. In 1962, it debated whether “The Creation of the State of Israel is One of the Mistakes of the Century”, and in 2008 it questioned Israel’s “right to exist”. More recently, students voted against a motion asking if Israel is “a force for good in the Middle East”.

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