One-state plan defeated at Oxford debate

By · October 28, 2007

A motion calling for a one-state solution was defeated at the famous Oxford Union debating forum.

The motion on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict lost last week by a vote of 191-60 at Oxford University in Britain.

Professor Norman Finkelstein, a far-left critic of Israel, was scheduled to be on the team opposing the motion but was replaced by the Oxford Union at the last minute because of protests by the pro-Israel group Peace Now UK. After Finkelstein’s replacement by Peace Now UK activist Paul Usiskin was announced, the team that proposed the motion withdrew from participating in the debate.

The motion was proposed by Professors Avi Shlaim of St. Antony’s College Oxford, Ilan Pappe of Exeter University and Ghada Karmi of the Centre for Islamic Studies at Exeter.

Earlier this month the Oxford Union had been criticized for inviting convicted Holocaust denier David Irving to speak at one of its famous debates. The union defended its commitment to the principles of free speech after being condemned by Jewish groups for the move, despite labeling Irving’s views as “abhorrent.”

The Oxford Union at its debates has hosted notable and controversial world personalities including U.S. Presidents Reagan, Nixon and Carter, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama, Malcolm X and Robert Kennedy.