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ADL Commends U.S. Rejection of Anti-Jewish, Anti-Israel Bias
Of U.N. Conference Against Racism
New York, NY, August 27, 2001 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today welcomed the announcement that Secretary of State Colin Powell will not attend the upcoming U.N. World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.
In a statement, Glen A. Tobias, ADL National Chairman, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, said:
We applaud President Bush and Secretary Powell for sending a clear message that the United States will not legitimize the attempts to resurrect unfounded anti-Israel and anti-Jewish canards at the U.N. World Conference Against Racism. We believe the intransigence of those nations determined to hijack this conference to promote their self-serving, anti-Israel agenda left the United States with no alternative. Secretary Powell's presence in Durban would only confer legitimacy on the anti-Semitic rhetoric that threatens to derail an otherwise laudable effort to fight global racism.
The continuing efforts to politicize and distort the agenda of the U.N. World Conference Against Racism is undermining this important world forum against racism and hatred. It is a tragedy that the first global forum against racism in the post-apartheid era has become mired in a futile debate over the anti-Semitic canard of "Zionism equals racism," a myth that has been rejected by the United Nations General Assembly.
Mr. Tobias and Mr. Foxman also praised President Bush for his call on the Palestinians to end the violence and for the United States' recent efforts to block an anti-Israel resolution at the Security Council, saying those efforts "demonstrate your Administration's steadfast support for the State of Israel."
Editors Note: Read excerpts from the conference agenda, including incendiary anti-Israel passages that are included in the draft document. ADL plans to monitor the conference and will be providing online updates from Durban.
The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.
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