Hundreds of academics have written to Lord Hague of Richmond, the newly elected Oxford chancellor, saying that an Oxford Union debate which praised the October 7 attacks on Israel broke the law. The Times has the story.
Professor Sir Vernon Bogdanor, Baroness Deech and Professor Peter Hacker are among the signatories of an open letter to Hague, who was elected the new chancellor of Oxford University last week. Hague confirmed to The Times yesterday that he had reviewed the open letter and said he “shares the concerns of the signatories”.
The union, which is independent from the university, debated the motion “This house believes Israel is an apartheid state responsible for genocide”.
One speaker described the attack on Israel as “heroism” and the letter criticises the “inflammatory rhetoric, aggressive behaviour and intimidation” at the event last Thursday.
Jonathan Sacerdoti, the opposing speaker and the son of a Holocaust survivor, wrote a piece for The Spectator accusing the union of “disgracing itself” by giving voice to “the forces of bigotry, hatred and mob rule”. He said that the audience was an openly hostile “baying mob” that interrupted every pro-Israel speaker with jeers and abuse.
A pro-Israel activist was ejected from the chamber after dismissing audience members as “terrorist supporters”.
The signatories said: “We unequivocally condemn the incendiary remarks made by some speakers in support of Hamas and terrorist violence. Such statements are not only morally reprehensible but also in clear violation of the law.”
It ends by saying: “Let Thursday’s debate be a turning point. Let it serve as a reminder that while disagreement is inevitable in discussions of such gravity, the manner in which we engage is just as important as the ideas we share. Anything less is a betrayal of the university’s values and a disservice to its community.”
The letter said that the debate was a “failure on all counts” and suggested that it subjected Jewish students to antisemitism and intimidation. It said: “Debate should challenge ideas, not debase and attack entire communities. Free speech is vital but it must be exercised responsibly and within the bounds of the law.”
Hague said: “I have seen the open letter and, from what I have heard of last week’s debate … share the concerns of the signatories. When I take office as chancellor … I will do my utmost to encourage a culture of debate that will at times be fierce and strongly felt but should always be respectful and never intimidating.
“I will use future discussions with students and others to help ensure Oxford is an open and inclusive place for both academic excellence and free, civilised debate.”
Worth reading in full.
