The White House decision to award the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Mary Robinson is deeply troubling.

As the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Robinson presided over an international conference on racism in 2001 in South Africa that degenerated into an anti-Israel summit. The Durban conference was one of the worst public displays of anti-Semitism since 1945. Robinson had many opportunities leading up to the conference to help change the tone and agenda of the event. She failed to do so. To the contrary, Robinson’s own incessant criticism of Israel only added to the inhospitable environment with which the Jewish state was confronted.

The White House named 16 people to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom – the nation’s highest civilian honor.

The Obama administration made its decision not to attend the April, 2009, follow-up conference in Geneva because of the affirmation of the final Durban outcome document.

During Robinson’s 1997-2002 tenure as human rights high commissioner, her overt anti-Israel bias led to deeply flawed reports on West Bank and Gaza Strip conditions. She also blamed Israel for the Second Intifada, turning a blind eye toward relentless Palestinian violence against Israel.

Robinson’s deplorable record on Israel should have precluded her for consideration for this prestigious award.

B’nai B’rith International has been active at the United Nations since its founding in 1945, and has been a U.N. non-governmental organization since 1947.