Controversy over the agenda of the UN's World Conference Against Racism, April 2009

What is the controversy over the UN World Conference Against Racism ( Durban II) all about?

 

Here is a brief examination of the topic by Mitchell Bard, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/myths2/Israelsroots.html#a7

 

Bard informs readers that the UN's 2001 Conference Against Racism did not address the very real and important cases of racial oppression around the world but crudely and hatefully aimed to brand Israel as a racist state.  The present concern is that the April 2009 Conference in Durban, South Africa, not simply repeat the prior outpouring of blatant attempts to delegitimize Israel, in preparation for its destruction.  //Mark Finkelstein

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In 2001, Arab nations again were seeking to delegitimize Israel by trying to equate Zionism with racism at the UN World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa. The United States joined Israel in boycotting the conference when it became clear that rather than focus on the evils of racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia that were supposed to be the subject of the event, the conference had turned into a forum for bashing Israel.

The United States withdrew its delegation “to send a signal to the freedom loving nations of the world that we will not stand by if the world tries to describe Zionism as racism. That is as wrong as wrong can be.” White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer added the President is proud to stand by Israel and by the Jewish community and send a signal that no group around the world will meet with international acceptance and respect if its purpose is to equate Zionism with racism.²⁰

The UN's Durban Review Conference, dubbed “Durban II, ” has been scheduled for April 2009. Though the conference is intended to target racism, many fear the agenda will again be hijacked and turned into another hate fest directed at Israel. The Obama Administration has declared its intention to participate in the planning for Durban II to try to prevent Iran, Cuba, Libya, the Organization of the Islamic Conference (all gross violators of human rights) and hostile nongovernmental organizations from again promoting Holocaust denial, anti-Semitism and the demonization of Israel. The United States is determined to see the conference play a positive role in combatting global racism and supporting human rights.^20a Israel has nevertheless declared its intention to boycott the event and has publicly asked the ‘free world’ to do the same.^20b The expectation is that the United States will again join the boycott if the agenda is not consistent with its expectations.