Hamas’ participation is essential not only because it is in control of Gaza, but because it is a disciplined grass-roots movement,with a substantial social, political and security apparatus, coupled with a charitable economic structure that provides for hundreds of thousands of Palestinians. Whilst it is certainly a radical, violent, militant group, it wields too much influence over its followers to be discounted. If ignoring Hamas has not helped to marginalise it in the past, how do US President Barack Obama and the leaders of moderate Arab states bring about reform and inclusion ofHamas in the peace process?

(c) jamesomalley
Welcome to The Vibe’s weekly debate! This week, President Barack Obama celebrated his first year in charge by losing a filibuster proof Senate. The Republicans and Scott Brown delivered the President the worst …

A year on since Operation Cast Lead, the situation in the Middle East is as bleak as ever. The people of Gaza still live in desperation and poverty; whilst on the other side of the …

(c) Scott Feldstein
Merry Christmas! And welcome to The Vibe’s penultimate debate of the year, which is asking a unique and controversial question. Should we just do away with Christmas once and for all? Simon Stiel …

Welcome to the Vibe debate again! Simon Stiel once more takes to the metaphorical podium to put his argument forward. This week, he defends the actions of a businessman, Munir Hussain, who …

(c) ell brown
In our third debate on The Vibe, Simon Stiel once again comes back to argue against the notion that class dominates in modern Britain. Given the recent back and forth politicking between David …

Spain’s economy will have to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

(c) hoyasmeg
Last Sunday, Swiss voters supported a referendum proposing to ban the building of minarets, distinctive spires that stick out of the tops of Mosques. They were perceived as threatening, and a symbol of the …

(c) Chicago 2016 photos
In our latest debate on The Vibe, columnists James Richardson and Simon Stiel go head to head, to discuss the future of education in this country. With Labour using the Queen’s speech …

(c) Jewish Voice For Peace
This article proposes to challenge David Gold’s original article on this issue. It is my feeling that an opposing article, rather than a comment on the original, is the most …

(c) Philipp Klinger
One of the greatest sins in acquiring knowledge is not knowing how to use it. Sometimes that’s how I feel about Will Self. A knowledgeable man. A learned man. An experienced man. A …

(c) Steve Punter
Adding to widespread condemnation from all sections of the British political spectrum, HRH the Queen has now stepped into the BNP debate, strongly criticising their use of patriotic British imagery and calling on all …

(C) mia!
There has been much pontification going on among those opposed to the BNP’s appearance on Question Time tonight. I keep hearing people saying that it legitimises them, that it gives them a platform from …

A Bill of Rights should be an integral component of any democratic constitution. Many democracies today have a Bill of Rights embedded within their state constitution. A Bill of Rights, in its simplest sense, defines …

(c) The Daily Telegraph
With the release of “Creation”, the latest cinematic effort to document the life and achievements of Charles Darwin, a spattering of philosophical debate seems to have arrived on our television screens. Whilst …

(c) Andrea F
At the beginning of this week, the CBI Higher Education Task Force issued a report in which they suggested increasing top up fees to help universities maintain a high standard of tuition. This …