White House to Jewish leaders: US won't attend 'Durban II'

WASHINGTON – Senior White House officials informed prominent members of the Jewish community that the US will boycott the World Conference against Racism next week in Geneva unless a draft conference document viewed as hostile toward Israel is amended.

One of the Jewish leaders said he was "relieved", but did not elaborate on the conversation.

Speaking to reporters State Department Spokesman Robert Wood said: "We have said that there needs to be a viable text that must not reaffirm in total the 2001 Durban declaration and program of action. And also we have some concerns in the text that support restrictions on freedom of expression."

Asked whether this meant that the US would not be attending, Wood answered: "At this moment, we have not seen enough progress. So that's where it stands right now."

The preliminary conference document, which was initiated by Iran, Cuba and other third world countries, ran 45 pages and called for reparations for slavery, condemned the "validation of Islamophobia," and asserted that Israel's treatment of the Palestinians is grounded in racism.

In an attempt to save the anti-racism conference, Russia initiated a new draft which no longer included the negative references to Israel. However, the new document ratifies "Durban I" – the concluding document of the first World Conference against Racism held in South Africa in 2001, which includes a harsh condemnation of Israel.

Former US President George W. Bush boycotted 'Durban 1', but Obama did want the US to attend next week's conference in Geneva, and even sent representatives to a preliminary meeting held a few weeks ago. The decision to boycott 'Durban II' was reached after the representatives said the US lacked the clout to omit the condemnation of Israel from the conference document.