Overview

• An Oxford Union debate labeled Israel an 'apartheid state responsible for genocide,' with inflammatory remarks, including praise for the October 7 attacks on Israel, sparking accusations of antisemitism and intimidation.
• Academics, including Sir Vernon Bogdanor and Baroness Deech, signed an open letter to Oxford's chancellor, Lord Hague, condemning the event as a legal and moral failure that endangered Jewish students.
• Jewish and Israeli students reported feeling unsafe, citing hostile rhetoric, audience abuse, and a lack of balance in the debate's organization and moderation.
• Critics argue that the university has not done enough to combat antisemitism, urging stricter guidelines, anonymous reporting mechanisms, and potential funding cuts for institutions failing to address discrimination.
• Oxford University and the Union have faced calls for accountability, with Lord Hague pledging to promote respectful and inclusive debate while addressing concerns raised by the event.