Be it resolved, anti-Zionism is antisemitism

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[upbeat music] Now, Jews are hated not for their religion or their race, but for having a state.

This motion is not about whether you are pro-Israel or pro-Zionist. It's about whether the rest of us have the right, the freedom, to take a different view.

Zionism means national supremacy of one people over the other.

Why, when it comes to the Jews, would you let the anti-Zionists define anti-Zionism? No, ladies and gentlemen. [audience applauding] No minority should have its identity dictated to it.

Welcome to this special edition of the Munk Debates podcast. This week, for the first time on our podcast, we're airing the full-length edition of the Munk Debate on Anti-Zionism, which took place in June 2024, eight months after the October 7th Hamas attack on Israel, and seven months after the start of Israel's war in Gaza. Suffice to say, tensions were high, and this debate was one of the most heated in the history of our series. The debate resolution, be it resolved, anti-Zionism is antisemitism. Arguing for the motion was award-winning journalist, best-selling author, and former Munk debater, Douglas Murray. His debate partner was Natasha Housdorrf. She's an attorney, international law expert, and legal director for UK Lawyers for Israel Charitable Trust. Opposing the resolution was Mehdi Hasan. Mehdi is a best-selling author, former MSNBC anchor, and the CEO and editor-in-chief of Zeteo. He was joined on the stage by award-winning journalist and Haaretz columnist Gideon Levy. As with all of our Munk debates, the audience voted on the resolution prior to hearing the debate. Uh, initially, 61% of attendees were in favor of the motion, 39% opposed. We did another poll after the debate to find out if people had changed their minds. We'll bring you those results, but first, let's listen to the debate in progress with Douglas Murray giving his opening statement in favor of the motion, be it resolved, anti-Zionism is antisemitism. [audience applauding]

Well, thank you very much, Rudyard. It's a great pleasure to be back, uh, to the Munk Debates. When I was last here a couple of years ago, I'd just returned from the front line of the war in Ukraine, where I was with the Ukrainian Armed Forces. And for most of the last eight months, I've been in Israel and Gaza, uh, following the war there as closely as I can. And I won't go into all the details now that I could give you of what's happening, but I would just put it in perspective in this way, first of all. What happened on the 7th of October was not just a massive attack on innocent people inside Israel. It was the equivalent to about 6,000 Canadians being massacred and burned in their homes in one day. It's the equivalent of about one and a