George Galloway walks out of Oxford debate. Is accused of racism

[cali]

George Galloway has been accused of racism after walking out of a debate at Oxford University after discovering that his opponent was an Israeli citizen.

The Respect party MP for Bradford West – a vocal critic of Israel and its treatment of Palestinian people – had been taking part in the debate at Christ Church college, speaking for the motion that "Israel should withdraw immediately from the West Bank", when he learned that Eylon Aslan-Levy, a student opposing it, was Israeli.

<snip>

"I don't debate with Israelis. I have been misled, sorry," Galloway said, standing and putting on his coat, then reiterating as he walked out: "I don't recognise Israel and I don't debate with Israelis."

<snip>

A spokesman for the Palestinian boycott, divestment and sanctions campaign moved to distance itself from Galloway's actions, saying the movement rejected "all forms of racism, including Islamophobia and anti-Semitism".

<snip>

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/feb/21/george-galloway-debate-israeli-oxford

[midwest irish]

1. Since when is "Israeli"

a race?

[cali]

3. It's not.

But refusing to debate someone based on their nationality is reprehensible. I don't see how Galloway, who, btw, I think is a total whackjob and publicity w...., is reflecting anti-semitism. He is displaying xenophobia, however.

BDS rightly condemned his behavior.

[boston bean]

4. I think it fall more along the lines of

He didn't want to say he wouldn't debate a jewish person, so he used israeli.

I see this cute trick used quite often. It's a way to sheild oneself from the anti-semitism they are actually espousing.

[malaise]

9. It has nothing to do with their nationality

It is all about Zionist politics. Read up on Galloway

[cali]

11. I have read up on him and that's why I know what he is:

a disgusting unprincipled man who is rejected by the vast majority of the left including the BDS movement. He's also a true attention you-know-what, and I have zero use for such.

Your support for such a disgusting human being is sad and shocking. I can only assume you really don't know much about him.

He's a bigoted shit stirrer and a prodigious liar.

[muriel_volestrangler]

6. Legally, since 1976 in the UK, if not before, discrimination because of nationality is one form

of 'racial discrimination'. The Race Relations Act 1976:

(1)In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—
“racial grounds” means any of the following grounds, namely colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins;
“racial group” means a group of persons defined by reference to colour, race, nationality or ethnic or national origins, and references to a person’s racial group refer to any racial group into which he falls.

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1976/74

[Posteritatis]

13. Wow, someone actually trying to defend that, and as the first response no less. (nt)

[midwest irish]

15. How did I "defend" anything?

[Behind the Aegis]

2. Racism? No. Bigotry? Oh hell yes!

He is a disgusting POS bigot. It should have been to no surprise to anyone he would act this way. If they wanted him to stay, perhaps they should have offered him a bowl of milk.



Sadly, the "racism" charge will detract from his bigotry.

[joshcryer]

10. If TomClash is right about him debating an Israeli Arab in the past I'd say it's racist.

I'm trying to find a cite for that though.

[TexasProgresive]

5. Can one be anti-Zionist and not anti-Semitic?

Is Jewish identity complete submerged in Israel?

[Katashi_itto]

7. Agree

"Galloway is a campaigner supporting the Palestinian side of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict who advocates an anti-Zionist stance."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Galloway

I think this is more an opportunity for "certain political elements" to say he's "anti-Semitic". Its like almost automatic, the accusation is used.

Maybe Galloway been arguing his points to well.

[cali]

12. oh please. Could you be any more selective?

wiki says a great deal more than that.
<snip>
Galloway has attracted criticism from both the Left and the Right for his comments relating to the regime in Iran, and his work for the state-run satellite television channel, Press TV. Scott Long, writing in The Guardian, criticised Galloway's claim that "homosexuals are not executed in Iran, just rapists", pointing out that current law in the country stipulates that "Penetrative sex acts between men can bring death on the first conviction".[132] Long-time Gay Rights activist Peter Tatchell, also writing in The Guardian, accused Galloway of spouting "Iranian Propaganda", continuing: "His claim that lesbian and gay people are not at risk of execution in Iran is refuted by every reputable human rights organisation, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission and the International Lesbian and Gay Association."[133] Galloway argued that Western governments should accept the election of the conservative President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[134]

<snip>


Galloway is rejected by most on the left in GB, including:

The Palestinian Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) National Committee subsequently released a statement indicating that while it does support a "boycott of Israel", the campaign rejects "a boycott of individuals because she or he happens to be Israeli or because they express certain views."[184]

Organizer Mahmood Naji, who condemned Galloway for leaving the debate "on the basis of his opponent’s nationality”, denied Galloway's claim that there was an attempt to mislead him: “At no point during my email exchange with Mr Galloway’s secretary was Eylon’s nationality ever brought up or mentioned...nor do I expect to have to tell the speaker what his opponent’s nationality is."[184][196] The debate's moderator, Michael Baldwin also criticzed Galloway, stating that "As [Mr. Galloway] himself is a Palestinian citizen, he would rightly be indignant if an opponent of his were to refuse to debate him on the basis of his passport."[1

[reorg]

14. in case you are looking for some more talking points

and how eloquently he is crushing them just watch this Q&A at the Oxford Union:

Link to the entire playlist at the end of the video.

Highly recommended

[Turborama]

16. Interesting clip, thanks for sharing n/t

[TomClash]

8. I will gladly take his place

He means Jews and it's obviously contemptible. He has debated with Israeli Arabs in the past.

[dipsydoodle]

17. In associated news

Oxford in uproar over union motion to boycott Israel.

Students at Oxford University will this week vote on a controversial motion to boycott Israel, after a tumultuous week that has seen hate mail, accusations of racism and a furious exit from a debate by MP George Galloway .

The Oxford University Students' Union (OUSU) meets on Wednesday to decide finally on a motion backing the boycott of Israel, its companies and institutions. The motion, which would be tabled at the National Union of Students conference in Sheffield in April, calls on the student body to join the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement, in protest at Israel's treatment of Palestinians and its hindrance of attempts to create a Palestinian state.

Both the proposer and the seconder of the motion have received threatening emails: the seconder has withdrawn his support and the proposer has requested that her name not be publicised.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2013/feb/23/oxford-union-boycott-israel

On one hand Galloway is an opportunistic **** and on the other Israel is guilty of the collective punishment of the people of Gaza which is a war crime.

If the OUSU carries the motion that will put them in solidarity with our trade unions here.