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UN Members Must Reject Call for Durban III Conference
Jewish Leaders Call for Repudiating Proposal to Celebrate Durban I Outrage
New York, December 16, 2010…..The Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations called today for countries to vote against the proposed 10th anniversary commemoration of the infamous World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance held in Durban in September 2001. That conference, which began with lofty goals, deteriorated into an orgy of hatred, bigotry and racism against America and the West, and launched a concerted international campaign to undermine Israel. The General Assembly will vote on December 20th on the resolution to convene the proposed “Durban III” during the high-level meetings at the opening of the UN General Assembly in September 2011. As the U.S. pointed out, the UNGA opens just days after the solemn 10th anniversary of 9/11. Marking the odious Durban I conference that fostered acrimony and spewed intolerance would be inappropriate at any time, but repeating the vitriol experienced at past Durban-related events, especially at such a sensitive time for the people of the United States, compounds the outrage and risks undermining the U.S. relationship with the U.N., which the U.S. has worked to strengthen the past few years.
“We recognize that there is automatic support in the U.N. for anything that reflects anti-Israel sentiment, regardless of how inappropriate or unjustified,” said Conference of Presidents Chairman Alan P. Solow and Executive Vice Chairman Malcolm Hoenlein. “Now, however, there is an opportunity for countries to show moral courage. In the U.N. Third Committee, the U.S. was joined by 18 other states in rejecting the resolution and 35 countries abstained. Celebrating Durban I will further undermine the standing of the United Nations and compromises its principles. Suggesting that a Durban III conference be held during the high-level opening of the UN General Assembly in 2011 to elevate its status makes it all the more imperative that this proposal be defeated now in the General Assembly,” they added.
“Should this resolution pass, we call on every country that values freedom and democracy and truly opposes xenophobia, racism and bigotry to announce they will not participate. We applaud Canada for its decision not to be part of this thinly veiled charade whose true purpose is clear and must be rejected,” Mr. Solow and Mr. Hoenlein said.
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