The United Nations conference on racism is to be held in Geneva, Switzerland from April 20-April 25, 2009.
The United States, Canada, Israel, Italy, The Netherlands, New Zealand, Australia and Germany have decided not to attend the conference in response to the belief that Israel is being targeted for criticism. President Obama stated that he believes the feelings toward Israel, by some countries attending the meeting, are "completely hypocritical and counterproductive."VOA News: Italy, Germany Latest to Shun... (April 19, 2009)
The Case Against Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Switzerland's President Hans-Rudolf Merz was to meet with Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, prior to the conference, which caused anger from Israel. Israel cited his anti-Semitism and his spoken belief that the Holocaust was a myth, as reasons for their reaction.AFP: Shrugging off Iranian demand... (April 17, 2009)
Gerald Steinberg, a pro-Israel lobby director, stated, "If Ahmadinejad is here, it will turn the whole thing into a circus."AFP: Shrugging off Iranian demand... (April 17, 2009)
UN Racism Conference News, Blogs and Commentaries
- Jerusalem Post: Morality in Neutral (April 19, 2009)
References
Fast Facts
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Fact:
U.S. boycott due to language in the U.N. document against IsraelThe Huffington Post: US To Boycott UN... (April 18, 2009)
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Concerning reference in the document
"incitement to religious hatred"BBC: US boycotts UN (April 18, 2009)
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Fact:
U.S. fears free speech restrictions
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Fact:
Conference called Durban ll; the initial racism conference was in Durban, South Africa in 2001
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Fact:
The U.S. and Israel walked out of the 2001 conference
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Fact:
The U.S. believes that the Durban Declaration from 2001 remains the same, and they do not support it
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Fact:
Human rights advocates support the U.S. involvement
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Fact:
Supporters of Israel are against U.S. involvement
