New York, March 18, 2009 …Leaders of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations today rejected the newest draft document for the Durban Review Conference as unacceptable. While it removes many of the explicit references singling out Israel, it incorporates the decisions reached at the first Durban conference in 2001.
“In an effort to bring back those countries that announced they are withdrawing from the Durban II conference and others that indicated they will soon follow their lead, a 17-page new resolution has been prepared that incorporates the adoption of decisions reached at the first Durban conference in 2001, which singled out Israel for repeated condemnation. Reaffirming the concluding declaration, in fact incorporates the outrageous charges leveled against Israel. For there to be serious discussion of the draft declaration, any such references must be removed,” said Harold Tanner, Chair, UN Committee, Alan Solow, Chairman, and Malcolm Hoenlein, Executive Vice Chair of the Conference of Presidents.
“We welcome the response of the US and other countries who are not deceived or misled by this ‘sleight of hand’ maneuver. The US and others walked out of the first Durban conference to protest the vile anti-Israel and anti-Semitic resolution and manifestations. All of those who rejected these actions cannot accept any reconfirmation of the Durban I final declaration,” they said. “We would welcome a conference that truly focuses on the problems of racism and bigotry, however Durban II, like its predecessor, has been hijacked by those with an extremist political agenda. Given these circumstances, we call on members of the European Union and other nations to announce that they will not participate in Durban II. This is a time for moral clarity and decisiveness, not attempts at subterfuge and manipulation.”
