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Last update - 10:57 13/02/2009 Go to Durban II By Claude Kandiyoti Tags: Durban II, Israel News On January 11, in the very heart of Brussels, the capital of Belgium and of united Europe, some 50,000 people demonstrated "for peace in the Middle East." In actuality, as the flags, posters, speeches and slogans showed, this was a demonstration for Hamas, Hezbollah and even Al-Qaida. At the front marched a bunch of prominent left-wing Belgian politicians, including Isabelle Durant, the president of the Ecolo (green) party; Francoise Dupuis, the Socialist housing minister for the Brussels region; and other luminaries of Belgian and local politics. In the background, a huge poster sporting a Star of David equated with a swastika made a nice accompaniment to the whole procession. Elio Di Rupo, the president of the Socialist Party, perhaps more politically astute than the others, left the scene after a short stint in the company of Leila Shahid, the Palestinian Authority's representative to the European Union. Nonetheless, in an interview televised nationally, he called on the international community to try the Israeli leadership - including, I suppose, his Socialist International colleagues from Israel's Labor Party - for war crimes. At the demonstration, I approached Dupuis and asked her whether she was not slightly embarrassed by the prominent display of Hezbollah and Hamas flags. After all, I noted, the European Union has classified both organizations as "terrorist." Advertisement "Not at all," she responded. "We are all here to support the resistance against occupation..." Belgium might be extreme when it comes to the lack of sophistication of its political elite, but the feelings behind this kind of behavior are by no means exceptional in contemporary Europe. Although the daily political discourse across the continent is replete with mentions of how important it is not to "import" the Middle East conflict to European shores, the truth is: The conflict is already here. It rages in Brussels, Paris, London and elsewhere, ignited by brainwashed Muslim youths and encouraged by irresponsible politicians and journalists. Some of these, especially on the extremes of the ideological spectrum, are genuinely anti-Israeli and/or anti-Semitic, while others are guided by petty political calculations. The result is the same. And this is only the beginning. On the grim journey on which we have embarked, the Geneva World Conference against Racism, known as Durban II (April 20-24), threatens to be a climactic station. Some 100,000 to 200,000 people are expected to convene on the shores of Lake Geneva, officially, in an effort to advance the fight against all forms of racism, xenophobia and related intolerance. However, from all accounts, this gathering will probably turn out to be a renewed attempt to single out Israel as the paragon of evil and to deem it unfit to dwell among the nations. Suffice it to say that the preparatory commission for the conference is chaired by the Libyan representative to the UN, who is aided by, among others, the representatives of Pakistan, Iran and Cuba. The initial draft declaration they submitted to the participants, last October, offered a glimpse at what promises to be an even worse version of Durban I. And in the meantime, the recent events in Gaza only added fuel to the flames. The good news is that Israel and the Jews are no longer alone in the dock. This time, the assault seems to be directed at the entire West and its values. What is needed is a common front of enlightened nations to respond to this assault. The question is, how to do it. My suggestion is not to boycott Geneva, at least not initially - for at least three reasons. If Israel and mainstream Jewish organizations refrain from going to Geneva, the only Jews who will be there will be the Netorei Karta, the extremist anti-Zionist Orthodox group that has made common cause with Hamas and Iran. If Israel stays at home and leaves the Jewish organizations to go it alone, they will feel obliged to "represent" it and to defend Israeli policy, which is clearly not their role. And above all, it now looks as though, apart from Israel and Canada, the rest of the world is likely to be there, including the United States. The Europeans will be there, armed with clearly defined "red lines": against singling out a country, against drawing up a hierarchy of victims, and against any attempt to infringe on the basic right to free speech by way of a prohibition of criticizing religion. It is better to be there, to help build the lines of defense. There will always be time to leave, if and when it becomes clear that they have collapsed. Let us not forget the lofty ideals that motivate genuine guardians and advocates of human rights. We Jews have always been at the forefront of the battle against racism and racial discrimination. If the conference gets hijacked, as it may well be, we can depart with our integrity intact, knowing that we have reaffirmed our own values. If we boycott the conference before it even starts, we cede the debate to the hijackers. In Israel, in each of our countries, and at Durban II, we need to stand our ground. Claude Kandiyoti is a Brussels-based entrepreneur and the publisher of Contact J, a monthly of the Belgian Jewish community. Bookmark to del.icio.us   War crimes probe A Spanish court says it will go on investigating Israeli officials over a Gaza bombing Peres' Abe Did Abraham Lincoln promise to support the establishment of a Jewish state?   1.   Edited by moderator 10:08  |  David King 13/02/09   2.   Who needs to watch screaming mobs calling for murder? 10:34  |  PETER SM 13/02/09   3.   Durban II 10:39  |  Arthur 13/02/09   4.   See "racism" defined - impossible within same race 10:50  |  Israel should attend 13/02/09   5.   Why Israel should attend (edited) 11:02  |  zionist 13/02/09   6.   Excellent article !! 11:29  |  Lior 13/02/09   7.   DurbanII 12:52  |  E Cohen 13/02/09   8.   Dear Claude, 14:32  |  Neil 13/02/09   9.   Go or no go? 14:48  |  Hastaroth 13/02/09   10.   DurbanII 18:56  |  citizen 13/02/09   11.   explanation 19:19  |  potobac 13/02/09   12.   the good news ... ???? 19:35  |  Phil Craig 13/02/09   13.   Nonsense 19:49  |  Gatiep 13/02/09   14.   Wait a sec! Eli Di Rupo was involved in the pedophile murderer Ma 19:59  |  Absolute Sweden 13/02/09   15.   Durban II 21:16  |  Walid 13/02/09   16.   Walid you got it all wrong 21:31  |  Galia 13/02/09   17.   "genocidal actions", Walid??? 21:51  |  Yosef 13/02/09   18.   #4, A rose by any other name.... 21:58  |  MRV 13/02/09   19.   Galia 22:34  |  Walid 13/02/09   20.   Yosef 23:21  |  Walid 13/02/09   21.   Durban 2 23:56  |  Joseph 13/02/09   22.   to Walid 00:00  |  Mich 14/02/09   23.   Egypt`s purchased complicity 00:17  |  Gatiep 14/02/09   24.   "and even Al-Qaida": Care to offer some evidence? 03:58  |  peacelover 14/02/09   25.   Walid, thank you! 04:37  |  fiona 14/02/09   26.   Your article has just strengthed the case against Israeli partici 07:30  |  LS 14/02/09   27.   fiona 08:06  |  Walid 14/02/09   28.   Jews are facing a new Nazi-climate in Europe 12:21  |  AA 14/02/09   29.   WALID Listen to survivor of Islamic terror Briggit Gabriel 12:53  |  PETER SM 14/02/09   30.   Rubbish. It would only give it legitimacy 13:23  |  Jo 14/02/09   31.   DO NOT GO TO DURBAN 11 18:59  |  Dr Jane Oloo 27/02/09

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