News and Politics | August 07, 2008 | 8 comments

Israel likely to skip next U.N. racism conference for fear of anti-Semitism

source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-08-06-Israel-conference_N.htm?csp=34

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maasanova
Israel will almost surely boycott the next U.N. racism conference in Geneva, its ambassador said Wednesday, warning that the meeting is likely to sink into the same anti-Semitism that prompted the U.S. and Israel to walk out of the last one seven years ago.

Itzhak Levanon, the Jewish state's departing U.N. envoy in Geneva, said the event April 20-25, would need to be completely reworked for Israel to participate.

"We want them to discuss human rights, and not only focus on Israel and turning this into an anti-Semitic event," he said in an interview with The Associated Press. "We will attend the meeting only if there is a radical, substantive change."

The World Conference Against Racism ended three days before the Sept. 11, with a declaration and program of action that divided countries even as they agreed to it.

Levanon said the anti-Israel speeches at Durban were a "shame" and that Israel would not have any part in a repetition. But he said the nations that led the attacks on Israel have offered no encouraging signs that the next meeting will be different.

"Yes, the Europeans say it should not be anti-Semitic and the Israelis are demanding a focus on human rights around the world," he said. "But what about those that did the bashing? They've said nothing."

Canada is the only country that has explicitly said it will not take part in "Durban II," arguing the meeting will promote racism and not combat it. In ads that appeared in April in newspapers such as the New York Sun and The Washington Times, 25 people including Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel, law professor Alan Dershowitz and former CIA Director James Woolsey urged the U.S. to also skip the event, labeling it anti-Semitic.
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8 comments // Israel likely to skip next U.N. racism conference for fear of anti-Semitism

  • Hawkmang
  • Magnitude06
    • 0
      Magnitude06  

    • I just watched a documentary on Israel entitled "Occupation"........They are exercising ETHNIC CLEANING of the Palestinian People. In 1922 the total population of Israel was somewhere around 757,182 people of which 87.6% were Muslims & Christian Arabs......the Jews were only 11%. There were always Muslims, Christians, and Jews living there it wasn't simply a Jewish state.(they lived together might I add)

      -Can anyone also explain to me why since 1967 12,000 Palestinian homes have been demolished?
      -Why has there been since the war of 1948 somewhere around 700,000 Palestinian Refuges that had there homes taken or destroyed or simply occupied by the israeli government to expand on OCCUPIED LAND?
      -Why is it that the media refuses to report from 2000-2007 there were 4,009 Palestinians killed by Israelis and only 1,021 Israelis killed by Palestinians?
      -Israel has approx. 3,930 tanks while Palestine has 0.
      -Israel has 362 F-16 Jets while Palestine has 0.
      -Who's the real terriorst?

      I would skip the next UN racism conference too if I didn't want allogations to come up on me.

      Glad I got that off my chest.........this shit is depressing!!!!

    • 4 years ago
  • robertsgt40
    • 0
      robertsgt40  

    • Israel claiming "antisemite". A quick revue of history will tell that the semites in the middle east are the Palestinians. The occupiers of Palestine are the Khzars.. Google it. It's there for all to see. Or read Koestler's "Thirteenth Tribe" He "was" Jewish by the way...before he was suicided. FYI

    • 4 years ago
  • shun21
    • 0
      shun21  

    • Everyone should have the right to voice their opinions about Israel without being called anti-semitic. Israel should stop hiding behind their religion, because that isn't the issue. The policies of the Israeli government is the problem.

    • 4 years ago
  • chris50
    • 0
      chris50  

    • Are you guys scared to say anything against Israel? I am not surprised. I have on my safety suit, so let the beatings begin. CHICKEN, CHICKEN, CHICKEN

    • 4 years ago
  • chris50
    • 0
      chris50  

    • massanova, Israel does not want to face its racism towards the palestinians. When ever the world turn toward israel with it wickedness they shout ant- semitism. Sound familar? You can not say anything bad about them, without THEM pulling out the race card. Lets do some research and look back before the holocaust and dig up the many sins of jews.
      After some serious research, I can see why they are not the favorite people of the color world. Still sounds familar to me.

    • 4 years ago
  • maasanova
  • Vierotchka
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