The Doha Debate, hosted by Tim Sebastian, took place amid mounting controversy over the role of the pro-Israel lobby in the United States and accusations that it has suppressed criticism of Israel - a charge that the lobby vigorously denies.

The motion of the debate was: "This house believes the pro-Israel lobby has successfully stifled Western debate about Israel's actions." Debaters: Norman Finkelstein, Andrew Cockburn, Martin Indyk, David Aaronovitch.

Norman Finkelstein, a leading academic critic of Israeli policies, argued in favour of the motion claiming that the Pro-Israel lobby sows confusion to avoid being held to account.

Finkelstein maintained that the American people are ignorant of solutions to the conflict that have been available for 30 years due to the "misinformation, disinformation, and sheer fraud which masquerades as scholarship that is validated by mainstream media."

Dr Martin Indyk, former US Ambassador to Israel and Director of the Saban Centre for Middle East Policy, argued strongly against the motion, saying that the event in Oxford was a proof of a lively debate on the subject. He said controversy over a recent book by former US president Jimmy Carter - branded anti-Semitic in some quarters - was further evidence that criticism of Israel was not being stifled.

At the end of the debate, two-thirds of the student audience approved a motion claiming that Israel's supporters are stifling western debate.

This issue is one of the most intractable barrier to a Middle East peace settlement. Millions of Palestinian refugees will always fight for their right to return to their occupied lands and property that was occupied by Israel and now is called the State of Israel.

In the latest Doha Debate, this issue was discussed. The motion was: 'This House believes the Palestinians should give up their full right of return.'

Yossi Beilin, a Knesset member and Chairman of the Meretz-Yachad party, and Bassem Eid, a Palestinian human rights campaigner, argued for the motion. They were challenged by Israeli academic Ilan Pappe and Ali Abunimah, son of Palestinian refugees and co-founder of Electronic Intifada.com

In a final vote the Palestinian right of return was overwhelming supported with almost 82% of the audience rejecting the motion. The Debate toke place on March 28, 2007 and was broadcast on BBC World on the 14th and 15th of April.

Watch the debate while it's still available on google video:

[Cross posted at Daily Kos]