“Is antizionism antisemitism?” community leaders will debate

Two leading lights of the Jewish and Muslim communities are to debate the controversial topics of antizionism and antisemitism in the second Whitworth debate at The University of Manchester. 

Raphi Bloom co-founder and current co-Chair of North West Friends of Israel will share the floor with Abdullah Al Andalus, a researcher for the I3 Institute and co-founder of the discussion forum The Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI). 

The pair will discuss the opinion that antizionism is the same thing as antisemitism, in a debate chaired by Joseph Timan, politics writer at the Manchester Evening News. 

The discussion will take place at The University of Manchester’s Whitworth hall, Oxford Road, on 31 October between 7pm and 9pm. 

The debaters hope to unpack what antizionism and antisemitism means to them, and the impact of the ongoing conflict between Israelis and Palestinians.

An airing of the issues will, they hope, clarify the complexities of the conflict and promote respect and understanding for both Jewish and Muslim communities.

In his professional career, Raphi Bloom is Director of Fundraising, Marketing and Communications at The Fed, the largest Jewish social care organisation and charity in Greater Manchester a

He is also a member of the management board of the Jewish Representative Council of Greater Manchester and Region.

Abdullah Al Andalus is Head of Occidentology at The Quran Institute, an international speaker, and intellectual activist for Islam and Muslim affairs.

Professor Nalin Thakkar, Vice-President for Social Responsibility at the University of Manchester will be introducing the speakers on the night with a welcome from Duncan Ivison, President and  Vice-Chancellor of The University of Manchester.

Professor Thakkar said: “The University of Manchester is deeply committed to free speech and open debate, and this is the ethos which underpins the Whitworth Debates.

“Open and measured discussion about Israel and Palestine is important because it allows for a more nuanced, informed, and compassionate understanding of a complex and ongoing conflict.

“And being able to understand each side’s position can only be empowering for individuals and communities who so often feel marginalised and threatened by polarised views.”

The Whitworth debates are a series of discussions held at the University of Manchester’s historic Whitworth Hall in which a range of seemingly intractable issues are debated by people with well informed but differing and strongly held viewpoints.

The debates will be based on the format of the very successful animal research debate held in November 2023 at The Whitworth Hall in which three panellists debated questions from audience members.

If you are a member of staff or a student and would like to attend the event, register here

In the latter part of the debate, the speakers will debate questions sent in by attendees so to send in your questions, email [email protected]

• If you are affected by the issues in the discussion, you can access the student  support services hub or the staff wellbeing pages here