The Oxford Union Disgraces Itself, and Oxford University

What has happened to the world’s most prestigious debating society?

[The Editors is called The Editors, plural, not The Editor, singular, for a reason. When I launched it, a shrewd friend advised, “it can’t just be you.” I’m delighted to start introducing some additional voices. Today’s comes from Michael Mosbacher, who is associate comment editor at London’s Daily Telegraph. He is a past editor of Standpoint and The Critic, having co-founded both British magazines.—Ira Stoll.]

John Kerry addresses the Oxford Union in 2016 as seen in a handout photo from the U.S. Department of State.

On February 9, 1933 — just 10 days after Hitler became Chancellor of Germany — the Oxford Union voted, in the so-called King and Country debate, by 275 votes to 133 “That this House will under no circumstances fight for its King and country.” Last week the Oxford Union once more disgraced itself.

“This house believes Israel is an apartheid state responsible for genocide” was approved by an even larger margin — 278 votes to 59. Worse than the margin of victory for the forces of hate was the way the debate itself was conducted. As Jonathan Sacerdoti, one of the speakers against the motion, has put it, “This was not an audience interested in debate… It was a baying mob… They interrupted every pro-Israel speaker with jeers, coughs, and outright abuse.” Anti-Israel extremist Miko Peled, speaking for the motion, described the October 7 Hamas butchers as “heroic.” When another speaker asked all those in the audience who condemn the October 7 massacres to raise their hands, only a few shot up. The Union’s president — Ebrahim Osman-Mowafy, an Egyptian Arab — instead of acting as an impartial chair was blatantly, outspokenly, and proudly biased against Israel’s case.

The Oxford Union is an institution that advertises itself, seemingly without irony, as “one of our last bastions of civilised debate.” Its speakers still dine together before jousting in the debating chamber and dress in black tie. Its past presidents — there are plenty to choose from, as the organization rotates through three a year to maximize the ability of its members to claim the now-dubious distinction — went on to serve as prime ministers, cabinet ministers, and newspaper editors. British 1970s prime minister Edward Heath and Pakistan’s assassinated prime minister Benazir Bhutto won their leadership races, while Boris Johnson ran and lost.

Yet it now seems to be reprising its worst mistake in once more calling for the appeasement of the darkest antisemitic malevolencies. What has happened to the world’s, certainly England’s, most prestigious debating society?