Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., May 02, 2008 Nisan 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 07:08 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Pro-Palestinian protestors marching through Durban during a UN conference on racism in 2001. (AP) Last update - 16:36 01/05/2008 South Africa withdraws request to host 'Durban 2' conference By Barak Ravid, Haaretz Correspondent Tags: Durban Conference, Israel  South Africa has withdrawn its bid to host the United Nations conference on human rights and racism, Haaretz has learned. A Jerusalem source said that the conference is likely to take place in a European capital in the spring of 2009. 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. Advertisement A Foreign Ministry official said the reason for South Africa's backpedaling is unclear, as only a few months ago President Thabo Mbeki said his country wishes to host the conference. "The fact that 'Durban 2' won't be in Durban makes it lose its political edge," the source said. About a month ago Haaretz reported that Israel and the U.S. decided to boycott the conference, following 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. Related articles: Jerusalem & Babylon / Ignoring Durban summit not an option AJC leader urges Israel to give 'Durban 2' conference a chance Durban: Not again Bookmark to del.icio.us   Hamas on the Holocaust Al-Aqsa TV claims Jews concocted the Holocaust. Grasping genocide How a non-Jew in Israel came to understand the Holocaust.   1.   do away with this racist `anti-racist" garbage 15:58  |  don 01/05/08   2.   Well, well... 16:03  |  Buzaglow 01/05/08   3.   Racism is anti-zionism 16:18  |  utagawa 01/05/08   4.   This is a pro-racist, not anti-racist conference 17:12  |  Conroy 01/05/08   5.   Iran should host this racist conference 17:25  |  Conroy 01/05/08   6.   Britian would be the perfect place 17:34  |  Binyamin Dissen 01/05/08   7.   Canada is also boycotting this racist conference 18:05  |  Conroy 01/05/08   8.   South Africa shows sense for once 18:15  |  Margie in Tel Aviv 01/05/08   9.   #8 Margie in Tel Aviv 18:38  |  Conroy 01/05/08   10.   #7 Conroy; It was acurageous move by Stephev Harpers 19:11  |  Max Zamir 01/05/08   11.   Durban 1 was Arab Failure 19:15  |  MichaelF 01/05/08   12.   POland should host it on site of Auschwitz. 19:38  |  r 01/05/08   13.   Best place is Teheran!!! 23:12  |  Alain 01/05/08   14.   .NO Hitler T shirts ,no Holocaust denial literature.How boring 04:06  |  PETER SM 02/05/08

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