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Pro-Palestinian protestors marching through Durban during a UN conference on racism in 2001. (AP)
Last update - 00:00 27/02/2008
Jewish groups mull UN racism meet after Israel decides to skip
By Anshel Pfeffer, Haaretz Correspondent
Tags: Tzipi Livni, Durban 

Jewish organizations are still at odds on how to deal with the Durban II conference after the government decided that Israel would not participate.

Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni announced on Sunday at the Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism in Jerusalem that Israel would not participate in the United Nations Follow-up Conference on Racism, more popularly known as "Durban II." Livni added the caveat: "Unless it is proven that the conference will not be used as a platform for further anti-Israel and anti-Semitic activity."

The first Durban conference in 2001 turned into an anti-Israel festival, and governments in the West have been debating over the last few months how to respond to the follow-up conference next year.
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Last month, Canada became the first country to announce it would not participate.

This announcement has been generally praised by most Jewish organizations but has also drawn criticism, both for not going far enough and for leaving the battlefield.

Former minister Natan Sharansky, who founded the Global Forum, said Livni's decision was timely but that it should have been without the caveat.

He said that "it's not enough to not take part in the conference itself, there is a whole process of preparation in the year running up to the conference, where Israel is being attacked, and we must make it quite clear that we oppose that also."

A number of community leaders from the Diaspora, participating at the Jewish Agency board of governors meeting this week, voiced concern that Israel, by withdrawing from the conference, was "deserting the battleground and leaving the stage to Israel bashers."

These leaders preferred not to go on record and to openly support the government's decision.

Amos Hermon, chairman of the Jewish Agency's task force on anti-Semitism, said that "Jewish communities have requested us to coordinate a joint effort to fight Durban II, and we are already making plans to bring thousands of Jews to demonstrate at the conference, wherever it takes place."

Hermon's co-chairman, Prof. Leonard Cole, said that "it's important for Jewish organizations to be there, at least as observers. We shouldn't be leaving this fight."

The president of the Anti-Defamation League, Abraham Foxman, disagreed, saying that "we should learn from what happened at the previous Durban conference. This is not running away, but standing up for our principles. Jewish organizations shouldn't even be there. There are enough ways to fight this, over the Internet and making press conferences in different places around the world."

Related articles:
  • Israel to boycott UN conference on human rights and racism
  • Senator: U.S. to boycott UN anti-racism meet due to anti-Israel agenda
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      1.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:33  |  POP 27/02/08
      2.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:45  |  POP 27/02/08
      3.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:46  |  POP 27/02/08
      4.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:46  |  POP 27/02/08
      5.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:46  |  POP 27/02/08
      6.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:46  |  POP 27/02/08
      7.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:46  |  POP 27/02/08
      8.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:46  |  POP 27/02/08
      9.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:46  |  POP 27/02/08
      10.   Israel has a horrible image as a Racist Apartheid Occupational St 01:46  |  POP 27/02/08
      11.   Wake up Israel 01:56  |  ottomatik 27/02/08
      12.   RACISM AND APARTHEID 02:54  |  JOHN ISH ISHMAEL 27/02/08
      13.   Pop 1 to ten 03:12  |  Chas. 27/02/08
      14.   Should A Jew participate in a Neo Nazi Rally ? 03:18  |  Wolfgang 27/02/08
      15.   Durban 03:41  |  Shel 27/02/08
      16.   Canada has a different reason for not attending 03:58  |  Moise 27/02/08
      17.   # 1-10 POP - Didi you convince yourself? 04:23  |  17 27/02/08
      18.   Durban ? Only for Kapos 04:53  |  Tod Zuckerman 27/02/08
      19.   Jewish Groups Should Attend With an Open Mind 04:55  |  Lev Bronstein 27/02/08
      20.   POP 1-10 05:07  |  judith 27/02/08
      21.   What to do when your own government knows it`s racist? 05:29  |  Mark Lincoln 27/02/08
      22.   GO to S.A.Cheer for Mugabe,corruption and Arabist hijack of yet- 07:41  |  PETER SM 27/02/08
      23.   MARK LINCOLN *21 07:53  |  MIKE 27/02/08
      24.   It`s the Anti-Semitic Gong Show! 07:56  |  Phillipe T. Lucre 27/02/08
      25.   M.LINCOLN&"Bornstein" a lynch mob is a lynch mob 07:57  |  PETER SM 27/02/08
      26.   Durban is not longer relevant 08:47  |  JG 27/02/08
      27.   Anti zionism=racism 08:55  |  zody 27/02/08
      28.   Racism=anti zionism 08:56  |  zody 27/02/08
      29.   Palestinan Arab nationalism=racism 08:57  |  zody 27/02/08
      30.   ANTI ZSEMISTISM=ANTI ZIONISM 09:01  |  ZODY 27/02/08
      31.   ANTI ZIONISM=RACISM. NO TO DURBAB 09:03  |  ZODY 27/02/08
      32.   Durban conerence=RACISM 09:16  |  zody 27/02/08
      33.   The breathtaking arrogance of Israel 09:44  |  Clickfool 27/02/08
      34.   Durban Is The Proof That Extremism Is The Norm 10:29  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      35.   Haaretz...HOW DO U ALLOW POSTS LIKE #1-10??? 10:32  |  spade 27/02/08
      36.   Imagine A Durban Had Israel Not Existed . 10:33  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      37.   To all 10:34  |  Ben Sina 27/02/08
      38.   To Mark Lincolc...Ever been to "racist" Israel? 10:36  |  SLAVO 27/02/08
      39.   Durban Proves That Road Map Is Not The Process for Peace 10:37  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      40.   # 34 Joseph thats rich coming from you 10:38  |  SJ 27/02/08
      41.   Durban Proves That ArabPal Case Is Illegitime , Is A Fraud 10:39  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      42.   US + ISRAEL vs THE WHOLE WORLD 10:44  |  indrajaya 27/02/08
      43.   Zody`s neat chant won`t hide truth 10:47  |  Truth 27/02/08
      44.   Durban Proves The Necessity of Judaism Temple Mount Services 10:54  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      45.   More demands from Islam 11:05  |  Joseph E . post 1 27/02/08
      46.   How sad 11:06  |  Layla 27/02/08
      47.   More demands from Islam 11:06  |  Joseph E . post 2 27/02/08
      48.   Zionism = Racism 11:13  |  Stephen Murray 27/02/08
      49.   #33, FOOL, you can go fly a kite 11:22  |  Cipora Julianna Kohn 27/02/08
      50.   TERRORISM is a CRIME against HUMANITY! 11:31  |  AliciaYasmeen 27/02/08
      51.   "HONOUR KILLINGS" are a HUMAN RIGHT VIOLATION! 11:32  |  AliciaYasmeen 27/02/08
      52.   # 40 SJ " To Oppose and Resist Dhimmitude To Islam" 11:33  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      53.   Bunch of INSIDIOUS ANTI-SEMITES!!! 11:40  |  Ben Uziel 27/02/08
      54.   ISHMAEL&POP."RACISM/APARTEHEID"READ THE HAMAS CHARTER 11:48  |  PETER SM 27/02/08
      55.   Durban Is The Expression of Idolatry to Hatred, Bigotry and Twist 11:52  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      56.   Israel has nothing to prove to the world. 11:53  |  MaryRose 27/02/08
      57.   Our failure on the Medias front. 11:56  |  Jean Van Daem 27/02/08
      58.   Poll on racism 11:58  |  MaryRose 27/02/08
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      61.   What`s Next ? the marathon will be interrupted for prayers, 12:05  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      62.   # 56 Jean Van Daem 12:19  |  Joseph . E 27/02/08
      63.   For Jean van Daem # 57 12:54  |  Clickfool 27/02/08
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      66.   # 33 clicky...Durbin II 14:13  |  Lynn 27/02/08
      67.   # 42 Indy....Not just US and Israel 14:18  |  Lynn 27/02/08
      68.   re 42 14:26  |  english jew 27/02/08
      69.   Whether Israel Attends Or Not Is Irrelevant 14:50  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08
      70.   #60 to MaryRose good on you! 14:54  |  Ben Sina 27/02/08
      71.   Lynn mentions the rogue regimes, but..... 15:05  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08
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      73.   No question that the state of israel is an apartheid state;any 15:12  |  lakshmi 27/02/08
      74.   it`s all about image, not about truth. 15:19  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 27/02/08
      75.   Jean Van Daem, hasbarah has failed 15:36  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08
      76.   re 73 15:47  |  mark 27/02/08
      77.   hey Tod, you forgot "yaakov" sullivan 15:54  |  Goldenberg 27/02/08
      78.   # 71 Yaakov Sullivan..and you dismiss the others 16:15  |  Lynn 27/02/08
      79.   Yaakov Sullivan - Wake UP 16:30  |  Suzanne 27/02/08
      80.   12 Mr Ish Ishmael Canada has no such adoption 16:37  |  Robert/Montreal Can 27/02/08
      81.   #16 Moise 16:40  |  Robert/ Montreal 27/02/08
      82.   Mike#23 re Mark Lincoln 16:44  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08
      83.   indrajaya #42 I hear your country is not going either 16:49  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08
      84.   #69 Yaakov Sullivan Satmar agent 16:54  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08
      85.   Yaakov why are you ashamed to admit you are satmar? 16:56  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08
      86.   Lynn, you still make no sense 17:04  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08
      87.   Suzanne you represent a sick paranoid mindset 17:07  |  Yaakov Sullivan 27/02/08
      88.   Nicely done, Suzanne 17:23  |  Murray 27/02/08
      89.   jaakov,you never mentioned any of the abusers lynn 17:46  |  terrornator 27/02/08
      90.   # 67, LYNN 17:48  |  indrajaya 27/02/08
      91.   Yes I am Satmar so what 18:07  |  Yaacov Sullivan 27/02/08
      92.   Israel had to follow its yes-sayers 18:20  |  Tosefta 27/02/08
      93.   You know you`ve got under their skin, Yaakov 18:31  |  Murray 27/02/08
      94.   #91 Yaakov at least we know what we are dealing with 18:33  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08
      95.   Margie of South Africa 18:45  |  GABE1 27/02/08
      96.   #93 Murray who does not even know what a Zionist is 19:04  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08
      97.   Tosefta 19:30  |  Danite 27/02/08
      98.   Poor Liberal Jews 19:33  |  Danite 27/02/08
      99.   Jewish wisdom for Danite 19:49  |  Miss Pixels 27/02/08
      100.   Jewish Wisdom for the Golem auf raider Tosefta 20:25  |  Rav Leib fun Kurow 27/02/08
      101.   # 86 Yaakov Sullivan....and while you yak it up 20:41  |  Lynn 27/02/08
      102.   Robert of Montreal # 83 rumor is India 20:46  |  Lynn 27/02/08
      103.   # 90 Indy......yes, they are making some changes 20:51  |  Lynn 27/02/08
      104.   # 19 Mr. Bronstein....the best way to deal with 20:55  |  Lynn 27/02/08
      105.   hey kids! haven`t u noticed that zionist dream 21:03  |  triska TORONTO 27/02/08
      106.   For Lynn # 66 21:52  |  Clickfool 27/02/08
      107.   SAY SOMETHING POP 21:56  |  TOBIA 27/02/08
      108.   Yaakov Sullivan 22:18  |  Benny 27/02/08
      109.   Yaakov Sullivan 04:07  |  pt 27/02/08
      110.   Rab Leib 22:39  |  x-ray 27/02/08
      111.   YAAKOV SULLIVAN YOU ARE WHAT 22:44  |  TOBIA 27/02/08
      112.   Palestinian suffering is and always will be ... 22:54  |  jj 27/02/08
      113.   #111 Tobia Yaakov is Satmar. 22:59  |  Robert/Montreal 27/02/08
      114.   Clickfool never fails to amaze! 23:14  |  utagawa 27/02/08
      115.   I. Danite the Golem: Introducing the Epic of Challenges #100 23:32  |  Tosefta 27/02/08
      116.   Far der Golem auf raider(Tosefta) 23:58  |  Der Kurower 27/02/08
      117.   x-ray 00:11  |  Reb Leib 28/02/08
      118.   INDRAJAYA SINCE WHEN ARE AFEW ARAB HIJACKED NGO`S"THE WORLD" 00:16  |  PETER SM 28/02/08
      119.   #48 genuine anti semitism murray? 00:16  |  v hardman 28/02/08
      120.   Is is Rascist 00:19  |  Mike 28/02/08
      121.   Is Israel rascist? Argue this 00:23  |  Mike 28/02/08
      122.   # 106 Clicky......I saw the article 00:58  |  Lynn 28/02/08
      123.   # 106 Clicky...second attempt 01:33  |  Lynn 28/02/08
      124.   Mike #121 There were no segregated roads before Arafat 01:52  |  MaryRose 28/02/08
      125.   What Mike, Derry is Missing 03:51  |  Tom 28/02/08
      126.   MIKE.Seperate road for Israelis Arabs& Jews.Roads came AFTER 04:02  |  PETER SM 28/02/08
      127.   MIKE FROM IRELAND 04:52  |  judith 28/02/08
      128.   Re 33 Click strike again. 05:00  |  Alan The Real On e 28/02/08
      129.   MIKE IS it racist.Sell Arab land to a Jew-you are dead!Argue that 05:25  |  PETER SM 28/02/08
      130.   ISRAELIS are ABOVE the norms of CIVILISED Societies! 06:19  |  PADDY 28/02/08
      131.   # 84 Robert/Montreal -Jewish MP in "Arab" Govt.. 06:34  |  NZEDER 28/02/08
      132.   # 103, LYNN 07:09  |  indrajaya 28/02/08
      133.   clickfool on breathtaking arrogance 08:35  |  ka 28/02/08
      134.   Mike 09:14  |  x-ray 28/02/08
      135.   Thank you, Robert of Montreal 12:40  |  Murray 28/02/08
      136.   Durban II 22:56  |  Huffenpuff 28/02/08
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      139.   hey kids 17:09  |  God fearing 04/03/08
      140.   Durban 11 17:25  |  God fearing 04/03/08
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