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Israel toes Western line, will boycott 'Durban II' By Anshel Pfeffer Israel will boycott the United Nations "Durban II" conference on human rights, Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni announced yesterday in Jerusalem at the annual meeting of the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism. The decision followed an assessment by the Foreign Ministry, and other Western governments, that it will be impossible to prevent the conference from turning into a festival of anti-Israeli attacks. Advertisement South Africa hosted the first Durban conference in the summer of 2001 under the auspices of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. It was titled "The World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance," but most of the discussions revolved around Israel's treatment of the Palestinians. The United States and Israel responded by lowering the level of their diplomatic representation and eventually quit the conference, which culminated in a resolution equating Zionism and racism. That conference also provided a framework for a global convention of non-governmental organizations, which became a platform for delegitimizing Israel. For the past few months, a coalition of Israeli and global Jewish organizations, together with government representatives, tried to prepare a joint policy for the follow-up conference, which is scheduled to take place in early 2009 at a still undecided venue. Among other things, there were talks with the foreign ministries of other countries and pressure on NGOs to guarantee that no anti-Semitic resolutions would be passed. However, it became clear there is little chance of effecting a change, among other reasons because the UN Human Rights Commission is chaired by Libya. Livni said yesterday that Israel had intended to try and influence the discussion "from within," by taking an active role in international forums "and cooperating with those leaders and countries that don't have a hidden agenda, and who truly want to promote human rights. But that policy is sometimes misinterpreted, and there are mistakes one must not repeat. Therefore I wish to make clear that Israel will not participate and will not grant legitimacy to the UN conference on racism unless there is proof that the conference will not become a platform for more anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic activity." Livni called on the international community to boycott the conference, or else risk "legitimizing hatred, extremism and anti-Semitism under the guise of combating racism." Bookmark to del.icio.us   Personalized workout Boutique gyms is the next big thing - for those who can pay. No to non-violence 'Human chain' against the blockade on gaza yields disappointing turnout.

Today Online Gaza protest of Israeli siege yields disappointing turnout Responses: 319 Bradley Burston: Palestine's doomsday weapon - non-violence - fails its test Responses: 114 Canadian Jew loses bid to have 'Jerusalem, Israel' in passport Responses: 82 Obama`s top adviser: Israel and Arabs must negotiate own peace Responses: 85 Akiva Eldar: AIPAC does not even bother to rally for two-state solution Responses: 34 More Headlines 23:52 Two IDF officers injured in blast at central Israel base 23:58 U.K. diplomat: Iran nuclear work may have continued past 2003 00:39 Kadima MKs adopt uniform stance against division of Jerusalem 01:39 Will Obama be supportive of an Israel controlled by a Likud government? 21:18 Ramon: PM wants accord with West Bank settlers on unauthorized outposts 22:24 Police call beating outside former Jewish fraternity 'hate crime' 20:06 American tourist drowns in flash flood near Dead Sea 18:46 Woman, two children hurt in Qassam strike on Sderot 19:07 Immigration Police detains some 200 African refugees in Tel Aviv 21:26 Knesset okays mandatory jail sentence for violence against the elderly 19:31 Agriculture Min. warns against eggs smuggled from West Bank Previous Editions Select Day 25 feb 24 feb 22 feb 21 feb 20 feb 19 feb 18 feb 17 feb 15 feb 14 feb 13 feb 12 feb

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