American Jewish Committee: Preparatory Document for World Racism Conference Must Be Denounced

American Jewish Committee
Wednesday, 28 February 2001

With only six months until the UN World Conference against Racism convenes in South Africa, "some governments are intent on using the occasion as just one more opportunity to gratuitously bash Israel," said the American Jewish Committee, reacting to one of the UN sponsored preparatory meetings, which took place in Tehran February 19-21.

"If the 2001 Conference is to address the very real and serious issues that should be on its agenda, then the passages in the Tehran declaration singling out Israel for unsubstantiated criticism must be denounced and insured that they will have no place in Durban," the AJC said. "Such language will neither advance the cause of Israeli-Palestinian peace nor contribute to international efforts to combat racism, xenophobia and related intolerance."

AJC expressed disappointment that UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Mary Robinson, whose office is responsible for organizing the World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, did not criticize the Tehran declaration.

When asked about the inflammatory rhetoric at a news conference following the Tehran meeting, Mrs. Robinson replied: "The situation in the Palestinian occupied territories was brought up at the meeting and it is reflected in the final Declaration." She went on to add that a "striking feature" of the meeting was the "emphasis on dialogue between civilizations."

But representatives of the State of Israel and Jewish organizations were denied entry and excluded from this dialogue in Tehran. Moreover, all non-governmental organizations that did participate were admonished beforehand that if they cited any specific country in their remarks – with one obvious exception, Israel – they would have their microphones silenced.

Israel is the only UN member state mentioned in the Tehran declaration. The document sets forth several falsehoods regarding the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, including:

- Israel's treatment of Palestinians "constitutes a serious violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, a new kind of apartheid, a crime against humanity, a form of genocide and a serious threat to international peace and security."
- The right of Palestinian refugees and displaced persons to "return to their homeland," asserting that they were "forced to leave their homes because of war and racial policies of the occupying power and are prevented from returning to their homes and properties because of a racially based law of return."
- The need for "international protection for the Palestinian people under occupation, against aggression, acts of racism, intimidation and denial of fundamental human rights."
- Turning to Jerusalem, the declaration, while acknowledging it to be a "city of reverence and religious sanctity for three major religions of the world," calls for, "an international endeavor to bring foreign occupation, together with all its racial practices to an end." (emphasis added)

In Tehran the "odious spirit of the Zionism is racism canard that marred the previous UN conferences in 1978 and 1983 were very much apparent," observed the American Jewish Committee. This disturbing development arises despite the pledge made by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan to work for the betterment of relations between Israel and the UN.

The preparatory meeting in Tehran was one of four regional conferences held around the world to provide input into the UN World Conference against Racism that will be held in Durban, South Africa from August 31 to September 7, 2001.

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org