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The Oxford Union, the historic 202-year-old debating society at the University of Oxford, overwhelmingly passed a motion declaring Israel a “greater regional threat” than Iran.
The Telegraph reported that the debate, held last week, featured U.N. Watch Executive Director Hillel Neuer and former Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh.
Supporting the motion, Shtayyeh described Israel as an “expansionist colonial state founded by colonial powers” that he said acts as an international “pariah state.”
He argued that Israel possesses nuclear capability and enforces apartheid policies, while engaging in occupation, crimes and genocide that fuel ongoing regional conflict.
Shtayyeh claimed that statements by some Israeli politicians about borders stretching “from the Nile to the Euphrates” reflect expansionist ambitions.
“We must all say that Israel is the greatest source of instability in the region,” he said.
Neuer rejected Shtayyeh’s claims, calling them a “reversal of reality.”
He argued that regional stability should be measured by “actors who start wars,” asserting that “Israel is not arming terror proxies in five Arab countries; that is done by the Iranian regime.”
Neuer said many Arab states “quietly rely on Israel for their security” and pointed to Iran’s recent drone and missile attacks on Israel, saying Arab countries’ roles in helping stop those attacks were “the real-world answer” to the motion.
Oxford Union members voted 265 to 113 in favor of the motion labeling Israel a greater source of instability in the Middle East than Iran.
Last year, the Union passed another motion accusing Israel of practicing apartheid and being responsible for genocide, with a vote of 278 to 59.
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