By Nissan Ratzlav-Katz
The European Jewish Congress (EJC), an umbrella organization for Jewish communities in Europe, called upon the European Union to follow the American lead and withdraw from the upcoming United Nations’ Durban Review Conference (“Durban II”).
On Monday, EJC President Dr. Moshe Kantor said the EU had to “show strong leadership and to boycott” Durban II. Calling the language and tone of the Durban II Draft Outcome Document “hate-filled” and “completely unacceptable for an official UN document,” Kantor continued, “Now is the time for EU countries and leaders such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to take the lead on issues of human rights and racism in the UN and to make a strong and clear stand against the Durban Review Conference.”
Kantor predicted that Durban II will be “an affront to all those seeking to ensure human rights and the eradication of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. We applaud the United States for refusing to participate in this kangaroo court against Israel.
Canada was actually the first country, except for Israel, to announce it will not participate in the Durban II conference on human rights. The United States announced on Friday it also will not attend the international event.
Dr. Kantor added, “Freedom loving people everywhere deserve more than the hate-filled sessions that are being offered by the likes of Libya and Iran and their allies. It is time for European leaders to stand up for human rights and combat the perverse anti-Semitism that scapegoats Jews and Israel for all the world’s ills and announce now, today, that they will not take part in Durban II. The world is watching and waiting for European leadership on this issue.”
EJC leaders are slated to meet with a representative of the EU Presidency, Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs Alexander Vondra, on Wednesday. The EJC will encourage the Czech Presidency of the European Union to disengage from Durban II, taking into account concerns already voiced by Denmark, the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.
