American Jewish Committee Executive Director Discusses UN Racism Conference in NPR Commentary

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 31 August 2001

American Jewish Executive Director David A. Harris, in a commentary on National Public Radio's Morning Edition (www.npr.org) today, voiced deep concerns about the UN Conference Against Racism, which opened today in Durban, South Africa.

"Despite an understanding that the conference would not focus on any single country, many Arab and Islamic nations couldn't resist turning this international gathering into a forum for bashing Israel, denigrating the Holocaust, and distorting the meaning of anti-Semitism," said Mr. Harris, who returned to New York earlier this month after spending a year in Geneva, where he observed close up the UN system, in particular the UN Commission on Human Rights.

"This world conference against racism ironically threatens to be remembered as the world conference that promoted bigotry," he said.

The full text of Mr. Harris' NPR Commentary follows:

It seemed like a good idea when it was proposed four years ago: A UN conference against racism.

But like many good ideas, this one went awry.

Despite an understanding that the conference [which opens today] would not focus on any single country, many Arab and Islamic nations couldn't resist turning this international gathering into a forum for bashing Israel, denigrating the Holocaust, and distorting the meaning of anti-Semitism.

I've just returned from a year in Geneva, where I observed the UN up close, particularly the Commission on Human Rights. I witnessed too many countries reflexively going along with such cynical Arab campaigns for shortsighted political or commercial reasons. In doing so, they've allowed truth to be turned on its head.

But there are a few countries, guided by principle, that refuse to go along with this charade. No nation stands taller in this regard than the United States.

Having been asked to serve on the official American delegation, I know just how eager the U.S. was to participate in the Durban conference. As a nation, we have something to say about our own national experience and much to learn from the experience of others.

And I also know how much Secretary of State Colin Powell personally wanted to be there.

But President Bush made the administration's position clear in his forceful remarks last week. Responding to the question, "To go or not to go to Durban," the president said the United States would not participate if Israel, our democratic ally and friend, is singled out for scrutiny.

The State Department then announced that Secretary Powell would not attend, reflecting our nation's anger with the Arab effort to hijack this gathering.

Some unfairly accuse the administration of turning its back on the world.

The truth is our government tried valiantly to put this conference back on its original tracks to deal with contemporary racism worldwide. Months of intense negotiations, however, produced little progress.

This is all sadly reminiscent of two earlier UN conferences on racism, in 1978 and 1983, which were similarly diverted by the anti-Israel crowd. In both cases, under Presidents Carter and Reagan, the U.S. did not participate, asserting that the American presence could only lend legitimacy to what had become illegitimate exercises.

It's still possible that wise heads will prevail and recognize that this world conference against racism ironically threatens to be remembered as the world conference that promoted bigotry.

But don't bet on it. Representatives of the Egypt-based Arab Lawyers Union have already poisoned the atmosphere by distributing vile anti-Semitic material to arriving delegates in Durban.

Barring a last-minute breakthrough, then, the United States will be right to take the high moral ground and sit this one out.

As President George Washington wrote in 1790, "…to bigotry no sanction." Those words, which give expression to our nation's highest ideals, ring as true today as they did over two centuries ago.

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