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

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

Our speakers are members of the Jewish and Muslim communities and have expressed opinions on either side of this debate. We recognise that not all members of these communities share the same views on these issues.

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 Swag直播 Evening News. 

The discussion will take place at Swag直播鈥檚 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 Swag直播.

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

Abdullah Al Andalusi is head of the department for Occidentology at The Quran Institute, a researcher for the i3 Institute, an international speaker, and intellectual activist for Islam and Muslim affairs, and co-founder of the Muslim Debate Initiative (MDI).

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

Professor Thakkar said: 鈥淪wag直播 is deeply committed to free speech and open debate, and this is the ethos which underpins the Whitworth Debates.

鈥淥pen 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.

鈥淎nd being able to understand each side鈥檚 position can only be empowering for individuals and communities who so often feel marginalised and threatened by polarised views.鈥�

The Whitworth debates are a series of discussions held at the University of Swag直播鈥檚 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

In the latter part of the debate, the speakers will debate questions sent in by attendees so to send in your questions, email michael.addelman@manchester.ac.uk

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