A Guide to Durban III: The Stakes for Israel at the ‘Anti-Racism’ Conference in NYC
- Posted on September 21, 2011 at 11:36pm by
Scott Baker
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Demonstrators chant slogans near the United Nations headquarters, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2011 in New York, against the Durban III racism conference scheduled for Thursday, Sept. 22 at the U.N. Ten years ago, the U.N.'s first conference on racism ended up in fierce acrimony, with accusations that it was hijacked to bash Israel, Zionism and Jews. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)
With media attention focused on the Palestinian bid for statehood recognition, it might be easy to miss a no less significant event taking place this week at the United Nations related to efforts to delegitimize the existence of the Jewish state.
The Durban III conference is a one-day meeting at the UN General Assembly on Thursday focusing on the theme “victims of racism.”
Participants aim to “mobilize political will” for a “full and effective implementation of the [2001] Durban Declaration.” The draft declaration states the Durban roadmap provides “the most comprehensive United Nations framework and solid foundation for combating racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.”
But this UN gathering professing to be against racism has been steeped in controversy since 2001 when the original Durban Declaration pointed to only one country as racist.
Israel, the sole member among the [then] 192 U.N. countries, was charged with racism, while the Palestinians were declared “victims” of Israeli racism. UN critics say the Durban conference is anti-Semitism dressed up as anti-Zionism and aims to reincarnate the 1975 U.N. General Assembly resolution that declared Zionism, the self-determination of the Jewish people, to be a form of racism.
UN-watcher and human rights scholar Anne Bayefsky who runs “Eye on the UN” tells the Jerusalem Post:
“Arab states at first sought to focus their attention on the defeat of Israel solely through military means, but they soon realized that the political battlefield was as important. The Durban Declaration and the follow-up processes it has spawned are the centerpiece of that political battle. By alleging Israel is racist – which they have done consistently since the mid 70’s and the Zionism is racism resolution, Israel becomes a rogue state like apartheid South Africa and a country so vile in its moral character that there is no need to negotiate with it, only to impose upon it the right answers.”
Fourteen democracies out of 193 UN members are boycotting the Durban III conference: the U.S., Canada, Israel, Czech Republic, Italy, the Netherlands, Australia, Austria, Germany, Bulgaria, United Kingdom, Poland, New Zealand and France. Bayefsky says:
“The fact that every Western member of the permanent five powers on the UN Security Council has decided to boycott a UN conference is a historic step of tremendous importance. The Palestinians – and Yasser Arafat in particular – were behind Durban I and its message. This is a major defeat of their message of rejectionism and a refutation that anti- Semitism is a legitimate political tool period.”
U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay is a driving force behind the conference. A Durban native dubbed the ‘UN’s anti-Israel anti-discrimination czar’ in the NY Daily News, “Pillay is perhaps best known for her unremitting defense of the notorious Goldstone report and for having questioned the legality of the killing of Osama Bin Laden.”
The Durban process has a long and checkered history.
The original conference against racism was held in Durban, South Africa between August 31st and September 8th, 2001. It featured as “star speakers” Fidel Castro and Yasser Arafat. So disgusted were they by the unfolding events, the delegations from Israel and the U.S. — led by Holocaust survivor Congressman Tom Lantos — walked out in protest.
As described by Benjamin Weinthal in Ynet News, the 2001 conference was “filled with Jew-hatred. Scores of South African Muslims in attendance carried banners declaring that ‘Hitler should have finished the job.’ Other attendees circulated literature denouncing ‘Nazi-Israeli apartheid.’”
One reason many have not heard about this conference was because the 2001 declaration passed just three days before 9/11.
The Durban Review Conference, or Durban II, took place in Geneva in April 2009. The one and only head of state to attend was Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad who opened the conference. From the U.N.’s “anti-racism” podium, he disputed the veracity of the Holocaust, saying: “The word Zionism personifies racism that falsely resorts to religion and abuses sentiments to hide their hatred and ugly faces.”
Ahmadinejad’s speech took place on the birthday of Adolph Hitler, April 20th.
Ten countries refused to attend Durban II: United States, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Italy, Poland, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands due to the conference’s intent to reaffirm the original Durban Declaration.
The three Durban conferences are just a few examples of the anti-Israel activity of the UN, cloaked as human rights promotion. According to Eye on the UN,
In more than 50 years, 82% of all General Assembly emergency session meetings have been about condemning Israel. By comparison, no sessions were called on: Cambodia, Rwanda or Sudan genocides.
In 2010, of the General Assembly resolutions criticizing specific countries for human rights violation 78% were against Israel alone.
The UN Human Rights Council has adopted resolutions and decisions critical of specific states. Of those, 47% condemn Israel alone.
The UN Human Rights Council has historically included democracies but also brutal dictatorships. This year’s council included Cuba, Libya and Saudi Arabia. (though Libya’s membership was suspended in March.)
If these activities are not in line with American political values, maybe it’s worth taking a look at the financial ramifications. The U.S. is by far the largest supporter of the UN, in 2011 covering 22% of the international body’s regular operating budget. Is this the return on investment the American people are looking for?
How anti-Israel and anti-American activities converge at the UN is highlighted in this video:
The European Union also contributes to operating costs. “The only issue that the EU should be discussing is the total and permanent de-funding of the so-called Durban Process. From day one instead of being an effective anti-racism tool, it has been leveraged to facilitate hate and provide their podiums for the likes of one the world’s most dangerous bigots, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad,” said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean of the Simon Wiesenthal Center told the Jerusalem Post.
“With threatened economies, growing unemployment, and bailouts for banks across Europe, surely the EU can find something better to invest in than continuing the Durban farce any longer,” he added.
Opponents and proponents of the conference are expected to make their cases this week.
The so-called “Durban + 10 coalition” of NGOs is hosting four days of events in support of the conference including the: “U.S. Palestinian Community Network” and the “International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network.” Sponsors include a potpourri of socialist/green/immigration/labor activists including the “Green Party of the United States,” “Malcolm X Center for Self-Determination,” and the “International Worker Justice Campaign.”
On the anti-Durban side, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency reports:
Several hundred supporters of Israel gathered near the United Nations to protest the Durban III meeting and oppose the Palestinian statehood bid.
Wednesday’s rally was organized by the pro-Israel Christian group Eagles’ Wings.
Many leading Jewish groups have decided not to mount demonstrations in response to the Palestinian statehood bid or to what they see as the U.N.’s increasingly irrelevant Durban III meeting.
And on the day of the conference, Thursday, the Hudson Institute and Touro College hold an event, calling the Durban conference racist. Speakers include Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Eli Wiesel who has experienced racism firsthand, former UN Ambassador John Bolton, and others.
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thegreatcarnac
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 5:10pmToo much talk. There is always someone wanting another conference to talk about peace. There will be no peace. Israel’s “peace” is a well funded military. There is nothing to talk about. Israel needs to tell them clearly…no state of Palestine and no-dividing Jerusalem. If the Pals and the Arabs disagree…then let the war begin and lets get it over with.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:48amI think it would be a very good idea to talk about UN funding in the presidential race. It’s time the truth came out to what we are funding, and the best way is to get info out on internet, tweets, whatever-we need to spread the truth to counter the lies. I know some of you know how to do that-I’m just learning to navigate the internet, and I don’t tweet, twitter, whatever. If you have stats and facts, please share everywhere. This whole debate needs to win with information, and to do that lies have to be challanged. I’m a bit scared, but I am always willing to stand for our constitution, our free country, and for sure too, Israel. God bless and help us all.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 10:07amJenny, I agree. We should look into the funding of all sides. We should focus on our funding of Israel, which is way out of line with our funding of any other nation on the globe. We are funding the descendants of the Irgun, who, for decades, held the world record for the terrorist killings of innocent civilians. We are funding the descendants of the terrorist groups Lehi/Stern Gang, and Haganah. Ask Clifford Martin and Mervyn Paice how sweet and wonderful these people were/are. Ask Folke Bernadotte. Ask Lord Moyne. Ask the victims of Deir Yassin. On and on.
Report Post »The truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth needs to be told.
christos
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:45am…….The Jewish people are some of the kindest people on the planet.polar opposites of what these Dogs are claiming,no one is buying this backwards nonsense,we know what their true intent is as always to beat +GOD+ to make +HIS+ promises to the Jewish people nil.it won’t work today tomorrow or ever we saw the Arc of Time on G.B.T.V. 9-21 +GOD+ played by (STU) devil played by (JEFFY) playing chess also guess who wins+++
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 10:10amChristos, Google “Plan Dalet” and let us know if you might want to reconsider.
Report Post »MainMan
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:35amOh man Oh man, I can not wait for God the Father to give all those who are enemys of Israel a lesson and it’s coming too….Abraham was His Friend, they ate together, sat together and talked together, they walked together and shared secrets with each other. Yep Abraham was one of Gods best friends. Check it out if you dont believe me. Ezekiel 38:1-23, its all right there…. Thank you GOD for your Holy Nation Israel thru them the world has been blessed and will continue to be blessed.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:50amA story written by the descendants of Abram, that benefits the descendants of Abram. Is there really any doubt as to the motive. Abram claimed the land to his west. Hitler claimed the land to his east. Both viewed themselves as the chosen. Aryans for Aryans and Jews for Jews. What’s the diff?
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 7:52amAmazing that we didn’t see all this coming down the road. I can see where TV in the evenings and nights certainly played a part in “dumbing us down”. Like children of old who were lulled to sleep by the motion of a car on a family trip, so were we lulled to sleep. We no longer sat as a family around a big radio listening to the truth, but traded it in for syrupy sweet pablum that made us cry for more of the same.
DEAR GOD, we AMERICANS owe you a profound apology for letting our nation and the world get into this mess. Thank YOU that we are awake, still somewhat groggy from decades of sleep, but we are either standing, running to stand or shaking the sleep from our souls. Those who choose to continue sleeping will surely die. Thank YOU, LORD. Forgive us. Grant us courage, JESUS, for it is in YOUR name we pray, amen.
Report Post »dyaeger92
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 8:35amThank you for that comment!
Report Post »marthasusan40
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 8:45amThank you for posting. well written.
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:12amWhat is the difference between Jews demanding a Jewish ethnic state and Germany demanding an Aryan ethnic state? Aren’t both disgustingly reprehensible demands? Aren’t both the same?
If not enlighten me.
Gary Fishaholic
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:16amExcellent post thank you!
Report Post »TheLastBestHopeofManOnEarth
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:46amThank you for this post. We must stand in the light and confront evil. God has blessed us and we must do our duty to serve our fellow man.
Report Post »WSGAC
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 10:04am@SMACKDOWN – Your attempt at moral equivalency is bankrupt and debauched. Take your hatred toward the Jew and go to hell.
Report Post »ShamanWorld
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 7:37amResearch the Israelis, who supported apartheid S. Africa, blackmail US Politicians, killed JFK(he wanted to inspect their nuclear sites and prevent them from getting nukes/signed a law to ban foreign lobby groups from supporting candidates in US elections(AIPAC) As soon as these folks get more power,they will surely try to kill most of us.Their main book(talmud) tells them it’s ok to kill and lie to non-jews. They think that they are God’s chosen people,and we are just they’re “laborers” to be made profits from. I could have listed volumes about their evil doings.All of the Israeli P.M.’s since 1948 have been mass murdering thugs. If we are a nation of laws and these people are the lawyers and law deciders,will are being dragged to our deaths surely.
Report Post »NHwinter
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:22amYour head is screwed on backwards. Go back to Palestine and shut the heck up. You want to say mass murderers – look at Germany’s Hitler, Iraq, Iran, Syria, etc. Shame on you. People live in peace in Israel. In 1947 Palestine was offered statehood and turned it down. They want death and destruction to Israel. Israel has a RIGHT to defend itself, period!
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:44amNHWinter, bad behavior does not justify more bad behavior. And, but for a very brief time, Palestine has not known peace since Abram left his place of birth, which is now present day Iraq. He crossed over into another’s land and claimed it for himself; hence the word Hebrew.
Report Post »Ditto Egyptian born Moses. See what he did to those who once took him in and sheltered him, the Midianites. His own army could not stomach the slaughter that he demanded. He had to order his men back in order to satiate his blood lust.
” Moses was angry with the officers of the army… ‘Have you let all the woman live?… now therefore,
kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman who has known man… But all the
young girls… keep alive for yourselves.’” – Numbers
Blight14
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:45am@ShamanWorld, you are 100% correct…………alas, you will be flamed by these poor, misguided folks on this site….I$rael is surely a cancer, a plague upon humanity………..
Report Post »WSGAC
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 10:11am1 Why do the nations conspire[a]
Report Post »and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.” Psalm 2
TxMadMac
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 7:04amFor those of us that have been to Israel and seen first hand the truth, we know that what the liberal media is telling the American people are lies ! Israel allows palestinians to work, run businesses and even serve in their government. Find that in the msm On the other hand, an Israeli is not allowed to step foot into palestine ! Israeli’s are a fair gentle people. They are not racists. Like anyone threatened, they will protect themselves. They hit back. They don’t strike the first blow. Big difference than what’s reported !
Report Post »smackdown33
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 9:30amThe facts tell a different truth. Google, then view: “Osher UCSD: Lords of the Landscape: Israeli Settlements as Obstacles to Middle East Peace with Gary Fields.”
Report Post »One can not get into, or out of, Gaza without Israeli permission.
joelsk44039
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 10:16amOh, yes one can! One can smuggle arms and ammunition through the tunnel system along the Egyptian border. Hamas does it constantly, and then launches rockets, mortars, guns and other weapons against Israeli civilians.
The reason for Israel’s enforcement of the blockade on Gaza is to prevent even more of these weapons from entering and ultimately being used against civilians (in direct violation of the laws of war, by the way).
Report Post »HowardSternIsABigot
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 6:57amThis is multi culti new world order democracy. If world sets standards of morality, whose morality wins? 350 million of USA vs 7 billion in the world. Any bets about who gets outvoted??? idiots. You are surrendering your freedom to make evil people very very very rich and all of us very very very poor. With the added benefit of enslavement of the conscience which must be judged by satans cabal and every tin horn dictator and moslem murderer outranking you.
Report Post »Arm yourself Christians or wear chains in shame and watch your daughters and sons be sold into bondage. of course you dont believe it, sitting their afraid to speak yopur honest feelings or defend your religion. losers on the grand scale.
sissykatz
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 6:08amI don’t understand if the Palastinians, Americans and everyone else can carry signs saying they hate the Jews and want them killed. Kill the Zionist etc. Why would it not be acceptable for us to make
Report Post »our own signs to protests in front of The UN who is also saying this, while on our land and on our dime. Our signs could say…….MUSLIMS GO HOME,,,,,, WE HATE ISLAM…..KILL THE ARABS…….
AHMADINEJAD IS GAY…. DICTATORS SUC$ ,,,,,,,.Does anyone think these people would have a problem with that???
obama-mecca-me-sick
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 6:41amI would visit you during your incarceration.
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 5:28amAfter posting to No Baloney it seems to me we should make the Republican candidates answer to
Report Post »that. There was to be a hearing on North Korea. Twenty eight countries on the list.
Economy? No damn wonder we have no economy. I have lost my mind I know I have I must commit myself—This is not what our framers had in mind. The UN was Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt. No wonder my parents hated them so much but my wacky liberal progressive aunt loved them.
RLTW
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 4:38amThe UN/communist/ muslims are truly infantile in their behavior, “unreasonable, irresponsible, emotional, erratic and unreliable.” They’re lost victims of any and all “-isms,” that provides them victim status. They claim no responsibility for their own actions, this is why they find it so easy to commit crimes and atrocities without any thought. It’s also this self-inflicted victimhood that ultimately makes them so dependent on the state.
Report Post »philipzhao
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 4:08amThe Divine will also interfere !
Report Post »ZAP
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 2:55amIn the end, Israel wins.GOD says so.
Report Post »Californiasodbuster
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 2:34amIs it not sad to know our hard earned tax dollars are going to support muslim degenerates that marry 7 year old girls, and make them their slaves, come on liberals, you are for the downtrodden, that’s what what you tell all of us.
Report Post »Thanks barry, for supporting evil 3rd century barbarians.
NOBALONEY
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 2:27amGlenn’s correct: “United Nations out of the United States, United States out of the United Nations!”
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 5:12amHave been saying this for years but trying to do my homework which as GB says is hard. After US threatened Palestine about defunding I went to the Senate website and there were hearings posted. This funding is for human rights USCIRF-IRF and was instituted and passed in Senate and signed 1998 (Pres. Clinton) and IRFA (A for ABROAD) and under the State Dept.(and who should that be today-Hillary Clinton.) Submitted to the Senate 1998 by Arlen Spector. This money if I followed correctly is in the World Bank institued 1945 and the director is appointed by US President and confirmed by the Senate. The US has a 50 billion dollar annual commitment to the bank.
Report Post »After I listened to the video on Palestine (they submitted a report to not fund Palestine) I just sat in my chair stunned. (I believe this was a sub committee-didn’t write that down and was chaired by a Republican).
And then I cried. And then got angry and wrote to Congress calling them nothing but money changers. It reeked of a little UN within US. How could it be anything else? Human rights for HIllary.
Obama wants Americans to sacrifice? We the people are taxed to fund 50 billion dollars annually borrowed from China for other countries (human rights) and all our products are made in China? We have been sold out. And then pay 28% for UN???
Christianmyson
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 2:11amIt is time for the American people to wake their lazy indifferent self up! What the Hell is wrong with you people? We stand by and let these people come into our country yes I said our country! and turn it inside out upside down and we don’t respond. I am a disabled Vet, I have lived my hole life as a God loving, America loving Christian. I was raised to respect all people black white brown whom ever I inter acted with through my life. I am 49 yrs old, and the America that I servered yrs ago seems to have been highjacked by commies left wing traitors, and a hole mess of foreigners, do we think that just becouse a person comes to this country holds their hand up and says a few words that their loyalty lies with America? No No No it doesn’t, Yes there are good American loving immigrants, but as you can see there are a hole bunch that don’t and are here to destroy our way of life. It is time to close the U.N. and seend all the unAmericans home. Wake up clean your guns and be ready to defend our America. God bless America.
Report Post »TEXASGRANNY73
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 5:41amSorry vet.Thank you for your service. We are waking up though. As a man thinketh so he. Stay up beat and positive. We can only win if we THINK we can. I slap myself after I scream. I really like myself a lot so have to straighten me up time to time. Ha
Report Post »TambourineInjury
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 1:52amIsrael Is Real
Report Post »ChiefGeorge
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 1:45amGive Israel a break, the world has screwed them over enough. Their people were forced to wear the yellow star of david on three separate occasions down through the centuries. Thanks Glenn for the education on this matter. Looks like they want to kill them all this time. This will be the last and final try the world will ever get at it though. God is fed up and its almost time to call the game. Get your affairs in order.
Report Post »JQCitizen
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 1:41amI stand with Israel!!!
Report Post »neverending
Posted on September 22, 2011 at 2:03amMany of us most assuredly do.
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