Jewish lobby pressures Australia to withdraw from Durban II

[MikeWB]

Jewish lobby pressures Australia to withdraw from Durban II


Pressure on Australia to say no to Durban II

NAOMI LEVIN

Australian Jewish News

March 5, 2009

http://www.ajn.com.au/news/news.asp?catID=11

FOREIGN Minister Stephen Smith is under immense pressure to announce Australia's withdrawal from the Durban Review Conference (also known as Durban II).

Earlier this week, representatives from the US Department of State said the United States would not attend the conference, which is a follow-up to the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

The US has joined Israel and Canada in pulling out.

Some European countries have also indicated they are considering not attending the conference in Geneva. Both Opposition MPs and Jewish leaders implored Smith to follow suit.

"The agenda of the Durban II conference is warped beyond redemption," Liberal Senator Michael Ronaldson said.

"Australia's international diplomacy should combat bigotry, not legitimate anti-Semitism."

Robert Goot, president of the Executive Council of Australian Jewry and Philip Chester, president of the Zionist Federation of Australia, both called on Australia to follow the US.

"The world's leading democratic nations must now speak with one voice to make it clear that any document that emerges from this tainted conference lacks their support and is utterly devoid of moral authority," Goot said.

"Particularly in view of the recent decision by the US administration ... we think it's appropriate for the Australian Government to make the same decision," Chester added.

The Australia/Israel & Jewish Affairs Council (AIJAC) also requested Australia's withdrawal.

AIJAC chair Mark Leibler said it is understandable that Australia wanted to wait and see, but "as the US Government noted on Friday, in withdrawing from participation in the process, the current draft outcome document for the conference is simply 'not salvageable'".

"In the interests of that vital struggle, the only principled and constructive step Australia can now take is to withdraw from the Durban II process -– unless and until the current politicised draft outcome document is thrown out and the process commences again from the beginning."

Robert Goot, also vice-president of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), sent Smith a recent WJC resolution that noted "there is every reason to believe that the worst elements from the [first Durban] conference declaration may be included or even accentuated".

[Ognir]

Bump this up

Seems Italy are not going either

Fucked up

[§N9sh2bj]

"Australia's international diplomacy should not combat legitimate anti-Semitism."

That's what I read.

What does it matter if the UNITED STATES corporation and it's subcorporations pull out? Since when did a piece of paper have morality?

[stoneskull]

i don't get why "The agenda of the Durban II conference is warped beyond redemption"

not much info about it besides it's a "follow-up to the 2001 World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance"


but it's obvious they're scared of it.

they should be more tolerant, and not so anti-gentile.