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B'nai B'rith International Supports Israel's Decision To Forego Racism Conference
B’nai B’rith International (BBI) supports Israel’s decision to forego the Durban Review Conference on racism. That meeting, scheduled to take place in Geneva in April, 2009, appears to be headed down the same hate-filled, anti-Israel path as the original conference, the 2001 United Nations World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.
The rhetoric at the preparatory meetings indicates the upcoming sessions would parallel the same disastrous route of the original conference.
As the only Jewish organization with a full-time office at the United Nations, and representation in Geneva, BBI is dedicated to combating racism and promoting human rights around the world. B’nai B’rith International plans to participate in a range of activities taking place concurrently with the Geneva talks highlighting the hypocrisy of a conference devoted to combating racism that is preternaturally preoccupied with Israel.
In her November 19 announcement before a gathering of Jewish leaders in Jerusalem announcing Israel’s decision, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni said the Geneva conference would again delegitimize Israel.
B’nai B’rith International Executive Vice President Daniel S. Mariaschin, who attended the conference where Livni spoke, said from Jerusalem, “The Durban Review Conference should have been an opportunity to demonstrate that the world community is serious about human rights and exposing and eradicating racism. Instead, by all indications during the planning, this conference would follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and be biased against Israel, while ignoring and excusing flagrant human rights abusers around the world.”
The United States and Israel walked out of the original Durban conference as a protest over draft language that described Israel as a racist and apartheid state.
“Once again it appears Israel will be singled out and held to a different standard than the other nations of the world,” said B’nai B’rith International President Moishe Smith, also in Israel for Livni’s remarks. “The anti-Semitic venom that is once again on display leading up to the racism conference exhibits a toxic environment that has not changed in the years since the original Durban meetings.”
An international conference against racism should promote human rights standards and be built on a framework of civil conduct and mutual respect. Unfortunately, the new conference does not appear to be embracing those values.
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