UN Durban backgrounder

By Jan Shure 
February 28, 2008
The Jewish Chronicle
Original Source: http://www.thejc.com/home.aspx?ParentId=m11&SecId=11&AId=58480&ATypeId=1y Press 

Officially known as the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, the 2001 Durban conference was preceded by a conference in Tehran, designed to produce a composite declaration against racism. Israel and Jewish non-governmental organizations were excluded, and Israel was accused of committing “holocausts” [sic] and being antisemitic.

When the Durban conference began, anti-Israel NGOs made their own declaration referring to “children, women and refugees” as “targeted victims of Israel’s… apartheid and ethnic-cleansing”. They also called for “a policy of total isolation” of Israel.

The official final resolution referred to the “plight of the Palestinian people”, making Israel’s conflict the only national issue specified.

Although referred to as “Durban II”, no venue has been set for 2009. Organizers in Geneva this week confirmed there would be no change to the preparatory meetings, set for Passover and Yom Kippur.