Global Forum for Combating Anti-Semitism
Jerusalem, 24 February, 2008 

Address by Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni

Dear Friends, 
It is a great pleasure to extend warm greetings to all of you and to welcome you to the Global Forum for Combating Antisemitism.  
It is most pleasing to see so many parliamentarians, representatives of states and governments, along with heads of major organizations, community leaders, intellectuals and experts here with us today. 
Your presence is encouraging, and demonstrates the fact that we can make a difference.  
Although Israel is the Homeland of the Jewish people Anti-Semitism, just as racism and Xenophobia Is not only a “Jewish problem”, or an “Israeli Problem”. We are on the front line, and it is definitely our responsibility to meet this challenge. At the same time, it must be said that Anti-Semitism is a sickness, which eats at the core of humanity, a plague which our planet cannot tolerate, reflecting a worrisome trend that is both toxic and global. 

The International and local Level

Presenting itself as a global threat, the challenge must be met by the global community. First and foremost by the entire family of western democratic nations who share the basic moral values of human rights and dignity.  
The State of Israel sees the fight against Anti-Semitism as a central component of our foreign policy, and we would hope that other countries will also raise the urgency and priority, in this regard. 
Friends, 
Only this week, Abraham Grant, the Israeli coach of the English team Chelsea, received a hate letter, relating to his Jewish origin and threatening him and his family. His Jewish origin has no relevance to football. Only last week we witnessed a neo-Nazi march in Dresden, and a burning object was thrown against a Jewish institution in Los Angeles.  
With this type of phenomena, you must deal with every manifestation equally. If we tolerate “hate material”, we will find ourselves tolerating verbal violence. If we tolerate verbal violence, we will find ourselves in a culture of violence. Every manifestation has its weight, in moral and physical impact, on the environment we live in.   
The key to combating Anti-Semitism is the understanding that it is not only a matter for states, but for every individual. It must be dealt with on “ground level”. When every individual will be aware and care enough, we will be on the path of eradication of the phenomena.  

The Supporters of Anti-Semitism
While we meet here, there are other places around the world where there are those who support Anti-Semitism and translate it into an ideology. 
There are state actors and non state actors. There are organizations, communities and individuals. They are intellectuals, academics and lay people. They use the internet, cyber space and every modern means available. They in fact manipulate modern technology and abuse it for their evil cause.  

The New Political Anti-Semitism 
Anti-Semitism has gone through different stages. 
It began with what was termed “Judenhass”, hatred of the Jews. 
It later developed into “Anti-Semitism”.       
The most recent development in Anti-Semitism is the anti-Zionist and\or anti-Israel approach, which is classical Anti-Semitism disguised as legitimate political criticism of Israel, or of those who support Israel. The motivation: the fact that Israel is the one and only state which by definition contains a large nucleus of Jewish people. The pretext used by them: The policy of Israel as a state.  
I would like to clarify that Israel believes in the value of genuine criticism, and is open to such criticism. This is the real meaning of being part of the free world. There are not many countries in the world that tolerate and encourage internal and external criticism, in the way that Israel does. The judicial system in Israel is empowered to exercise its full authority, even when Israel is under attack, and it does so. Israel itself leads enquiries and investigations of its own actions, beyond the legal circumspection, with great courage and boldness.
The real issue is double standards and sometimes a total lack of standards, when relating to Israel, in order to de-legitimize the state of Israel. To no great surprise, this spread moves in parallel with the spread of radical Islamic ideology in Europe and other parts of the world. It is led by the extremists, who wish to annihilate Israel or non Islamic existence in the region. 

Iran
The classical example is of course Iran, which does not even hide the connection between classical and modern hatred.  
The denial of the Holocaust leads them directly to the call for the abolition of the state of Israel. While other nations are entitled to self determination, the Jews are not.   
It is equally unacceptable that a UN member state, denies the facts of the Shoah, calls for the destruction of a fellow member state, pursues weapons of mass destruction as a tool for this goal, and is still accepted as a legitimate member of the family of nations.  

Hijacking of International bodies
In this context, we must be aware of Human rights organizations and UN bodies which have been hijacked by these extremist elements, and are manipulated to serve as a tool in the spreading of their hatred agenda.  
A fine example is the New Human Rights Council, which has become a politicized body, singling out Israel in an imbalanced and biased manner.
We must alert the world to the United Nations Follow Up Conference on Racism, or in its popular name the Durban 2 conference. Durban I was a travesty that cannot be repeated. 
The original standpoint of Israel, as other leaders and countries, who approach these issues with “clean hands”, has been to influence from within. Meaning, to actively participate in international forums and conferences, and to partner with those leaders and countries who do not have a hidden agenda and who genuinely wish to work for human rights and against the violation of such rights. 
Yet, this policy is sometimes mistaken, and there are some mistakes that we cannot afford to repeat. This good intentioned and innocent approach by Israel and other states, who wish to influence from within, is very often abused by elements with a very clear agenda.      
Therefore, I would like to make our position very clear. Israel will not participate and not give legitimacy to the UN Follow Up Conference on Racism (Durban II), unless it is proven that the conference will not be used as a platform for further anti-Israeli and Anti-Semitic activity. 
We call upon the international community, and say: your participation in such conferences gives legitimacy to hatred, extremism and anti-Semitism, under the banner of the “fight against racism”. 
Israel will not take part in a conference that promotes hate, and we expect like-minded countries to do likewise.
The battle against such phenomena begins with opening our eyes and not ignoring, and refusing to cooperate with such dangerous hypocrisy.   
I would like to take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the decision of The Government of Canada to pull out from the conference. The Canadian decision, at this early stage, undoubtedly will shake the entire foundation of those wishing to repeat the 2001 Durban Conference once again.   
While politicization has derailed the Durban process, Israel cannot and will not permit the international spotlight to turn away from meaningful discussions on human rights and discrimination. The challenge, following the failure of Durban, is for responsible governmental and non-governmental leaders to unite and forge a global movement to eradicate racism and intolerance of all kinds. Israel will play a viable role and be a full and active partner in any such sincere and authentic process.
This is an ongoing struggle and this gathering is important. Each and every one of you should know that he is not alone in this battle. 
As a follow-up to last year's Conference and in order to continue the momentum of this year's Forum, we also welcome the recommendation to create an international coalition for combating anti-Semitism, and I thank MP Prof. Irwin Cotler for presenting this initiative. 
I wish to take this opportunity to commend John Mann, Member of the British Parliament, for his key role in initiating the inquiry and report on Anti-Semitism in the UK, and for conveying the offer, on behalf of the British Government, to host next year's Global Forum in London.  We gladly welcome his offer.   
Together with my Co-Chairman, Minister Isaac Herzog, I look forward to seeing more partnerships of this kind with other governments in our common cause. 
The success of our struggle against Anti-Semitism will have far-reaching implications for the future of the Jewish people, the State of Israel and the global community.
Thank you.