U.S. President Barack Obama bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom on Wednesday to Mary Robinson despite an outcry from Jewish organizations over Robinsons’ tenure as U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. The blatantly anti-Semitic and anti-Israel Durban World Conference Against Racism took place during Robinson’s tenure in the position.
Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the European Jewish Congress, the umbrella organization for Jewish communities in Europe, stated Wednesday that as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, “It was Mary Robinson’s mandate to protect human rights for everyone, rather than provide a venue for one-sided Israel-bashing and a platform for outrageous expressions of anti-Semitism. By this measure alone, it is abundantly clear that Robinson does not meet the same standards as other world leaders who have been honored with the Presidential Medal.”
