Cambridge rejects to call Israel a rogue state

Cambridge University Union rejected with large majority the motion that Israel is a rogue state

October 24, 2010*
The following is the statement issued by Cambridge Israel Society following the debate of the motion "This house believes
Israel is a Rogue state" For the motion was the newly converted British Muslim,  Lauren Booth and Mark McDonald who refused to criticise Hamas.

Booth converted after having a ‘holy experience' in Iran. (She said she now wears a hijab head covering whenever she leaves her home, prays five times a day and visits her local mosque ‘when I can'.)  She decided to become a Muslim six weeks ago after visiting the shrine of Fatima al-Masumeh in the city of Qom. in Iran!!!!
"Tuesday evening I sat down and felt this shot of spiritual morphine, just absolute bliss and joy," she told The Mail on Sunday.
When she returned to Britain, she decided to convert immediately.

The Society's Conclusion of the debate said that:

 "The Cambridge Union rejected the notion that Israel is a rogue state, and with a significant majority. Unsurprisingly, much of the debate focused on Israel being an exceptional state. Israel's commitment to political democracy and judicial accountability were frequently highlighted. At a time where the leaders of the Middle-East are engaging in peace negotiations, it is vital for discussion on university campuses to move away from one-sided biased criticism to constructive dialogue about a peaceful two-state solution, and we are delighted that Cambridge students appreciate this.
Ariel Levy
Israel Society President"

Apparently a student who was part of the proposing team chose to interpret rogue in an unusual way by arguing that Israel is 'rogue' based on the fact that does extraordinary things such as risking its own soldiers to ensure safe passage of Darfur refugees!!

The advertised speakers against the motion were:
Ran Gidor: the Counsellor for Political Affairs at the Embassy of Israel in London.
Shiraz Maher: who was once on the front line of British Islamism serving as a regional officer in northeast England for Hizb ut-Tahrir, an extremist group committed to the creation of a puritanical caliphate. Since leaving it in 2005, he has worked on the character and influences of extremism.
Rob Mindell: a third year law student at St Catharine's College, and former president of Cambridge University Jewish Society. Rob is a regular opinion writer for Varsity and TCS. 

*sent by Joy Wolfe, Manchester