- The Oxford Union, one of the most influential debating institutions globally, has voted that Israel is a greater threat than Iran to regional stability.
- An overwhelming vote of 265 to 113 continues to signal a change in the intellectual and academic discourse of Israel.
The Oxford Union, one of Britain’s most prestigious debating societies, has determined that Israel represents a greater threat to Middle Eastern security and stability than Iran following a recent contentious debate.
The debate occurred on Thursday, 13th November, but the vote had taken place on Sunday, 16th.
The Oxford Union has a reputation for garnering high-profile figures and famous voices to debate on relevant topics, and in the most recent debate that occurred on Thursday, on the motion that Israel is a greater threat, former Palestinian President Mohammad Shtayyeh advocated for the motion, while on the benches opposite, Hillel Neuer, director of Geneva-based NGO UN Watch, contested the motion.
Shtayyeh, while advocating for the motion, described Israel as a pariah state that acts “above the law” and maintains a colonial regime, characterising its treatment of Palestinians as apartheid. He cited alleged violations of multiple United Nations resolutions.
He characterised Israel as: “an expansionist colonial state established by colonial powers” that exists as “a colonial regime based on apartheid against the Palestinian people.”
Opposition arguments and counterpoints
Hillel Neuer, who was arguing for the opposition, defended Israel’s actions by diverting the attention and blame to Iran, making it seem Iran was responsible for Israel acting in the way it did.
He said: “regional stability is measured by who starts wars, not by who stops them.
“Israel does not arm terror proxies in five Arab countries – the regime in Iran does that.”
Neuer referenced Iran’s recent missile and drone attacks against Israel and the defensive response from several Arab nations as evidence of regional alignment against Iranian aggression.
Context of the Oxford Union
The Oxford Union was founded in 1823 and has faced increased scrutiny for its debates concerning Israel after previously passing a motion last year accusing Israel of being “an apartheid state responsible for genocide” by a wide margin of 278 votes to 59.
Yesterday’s vote reflects ongoing academic and intellectual discourse within one of Britain’s most influential debating institutions regarding Middle Eastern geopolitics and conflict analysis.
The vote is primarily open to current students and alumni, making the recent vote a signal of the stark change in intellectual discourse amongst Britain’s young, intellectual community.
