Pro-Israel activists have expressed serious concern about the 2009 UN World Conference against Racism, for which the first preparatory meeting will be held in Geneva next week, according to the Jerusalem Post. The first such conference held in 2001 in Durban, South Africa focused on Israel, equating Zionism with racism and ignoring countries where racism is systemized and fatal.
"The anti-racism meeting in Geneva is shaping up to be a wolf in sheep's clothing," said Hillel Neuer, executive director of UN Watch. "Every indicator is that the sequel to Durban will mimic both the format and script of the 2001 conference, using the noble language of anti-racism as a cover to promote hatred of the West and anti-Semitic, anti-Israel propaganda.
With the Islamic states also planning to add new accusations against the West under the claim of 'religious defamation,' this is a fiasco in the making."
The NGO Monitor slammed the previous conference for endorsing "the singling-out of Israel through a campaign that called for sanctions and boycotts against Israel through the abuse of the principles of human rights and international law."
The preparatory meeting, which will be held at the end of August, will be chaired by Libya and include representatives of Argentina, Armenia, Belgium, Brazil, Cameroon, Chile, Croatia, Cuba, Estonia, Greece, India, Indonesia, Iran, Libya, Pakistan, Norway, Russia, Senegal, South Africa and Turkey. These countries will decide on the objectives of the 2009 conference.
"The composition of the preparatory committee including Iran and Libya, meeting for the reenactment of the infamous Durban conference, suggests that nothing has been learned since 2001," said Prof. Gerald Steinberg, executive director of NGO Monitor. "Once again, the NGO network that hijacked Durban 2001 - funded by the Ford Foundation and European government aid programs - is preparing to play a key role in using this conference for the demonization of democracies and deligitimization of Israel."
The NGO has submitted a report to the committee calling on its members to heed the impact of having the same organizations from 2001 participate in the 2009 conference.
"Although these NGOs claim to promote universal human rights, the record shows that in reality, they advance biased agendas based on a highly distorted narrative that exploits and undermines international law," NGO Monitor said.
|
icon to send a private email to the talkback writer. The icon appears only if the writer has decided to be contacted. If no popup window appears, please make sure your popup blocker allows israelinsider.com.