WZO 'sponsored' Rubinstein

Danny Rubinstein, the Haaretz columnist who likened Israel to apartheid South Africa during a much-condemned UN conference last week, flew to London to deliver a talk at the expense of the World Zionist Organization (WZO), Ynetnews has learned.

En route to Britain, Rubinstein made a stop over in Brussels last Thursday, where he told a UN conference of non - governmental organizations that "Israel today was an apartheid state with four different Palestinian groups: those in Gaza, East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Israeli Palestinians, each of which had a different status."

Rubinstein was then scheduled to take part in an event, organized the Zionist Federation (ZF) of Great Britain, to mark Israel's 60th year of independence on Sunday, but was disinvited following his remarks in Brussels.

Andrew Balcombe, of the Zionist Federation (ZF) of Great Britain, said: "...By using the word 'apartheid...' Danny Rubinstein encourages the demonization of Israel and the Jewish people. I believe he was naive to attend the UN conference."

A spokesman for the WZO told Ynetnews that the organization often assists the ZF in Britain by covering the travel costs of invited speakers.

"What they (the ZF) wanted was a balance of speakers, one right wing, one left wing, and someone to represent the official government view. Rubinstein was invited to talk about his leftist perspective, But no one dreamt in their wildest dreams that he would stop off in Brussels to tell a UN conference that Israel is racist state," the WZO spokesman said. He added that the WZO would refrain from covering any of Rubinstein's future travel expenses.

"How can you expect to be hosted by a Zionist organization which is fighting Israel's detractors, fighting the issue of the academic boycott, while making such comments?" the spokesman added.

Rubinstein 'still welcome'

Meanwhile, despite the ZF's cancellation of Rubinstein's appearance, the Haaretz columnist will appear as scheduled at a talk in a London synagogue on Monday evening, organized by the British branch of the New Israel Fund (NIF).

The NIF describes itself as an "international philanthropic partnership working to strengthen Israel's democracy."

Ellen Goldberg, executive director of the NIF, stressed that the "New Israel Fund does not endorse Mr Rubinstein's view or his use of the term 'apartheid,'" but added that her organization is "dedicated to equality, freedom of speech and social justice," and "cannot censor an expression of views from someone whose dedication to Israel's future and knowledge of current affairs are exceptional."

"We recognize that many people will find the use of the term 'apartheid' extremely objectionable in a context related to Israel. Nonetheless, New Israel Fund feels it important to understand Mr Rubinstein's views and the rationale behind them. Monday evening's event will, therefore, take place as scheduled," Goldberg said.

Speaking to Ynetnews, Goldberg said she was "saddened" by the Zionist Federation's decision to cancel Rubinstein's appearance, adding that the cancellation would prevent a "serious discussion" from taking place. Goldberg said, however, that she "understood the ZF's reality."

"We've gotten a wide range of responses to our decision not to cancel, some agree with our decision and think it was the right thing to do, and other people think that by having him and holding the event, we are, no matter what we say, still endorsing the position, which is not necessarily the case," Goldberg said.

Asked whether the hosting of Rubinstein could supply ammunition to advocates of the academic boycott in Britain, who base their boycott on comparisons of Israel with apartheid South Africa, Goldberg said: "We have sent invitations to people who are interested in the issues, to synagogues and mailing lists. What other people read into it afterwards as outsiders is their issue. That's part of freedom and speech. People should respect and understand that, and the people (involved) in the boycott don't necessarily understand that."

During the NIF's event on Monday evening, former Jewish Chronicle editor, and current chief political correspondent of the Observer newspaper, Ned Temko, will interview Rubinstein.

Speaking to Ynetnews, Gavin Gross, campaigns director of the Zionist Federation, said he planned to attend the event, and expressed hope that Rubinstein would clarify his positions during the debate.

"I hope the synagogue's audience and journalist Ned Temko, who is interviewing Danny Rubinstein tonight, will question Danny very firmly.

"Why did he agree to participate in a conference held by a notoriously anti-Israeli UN committee, why did he use the apartheid analogy in front of such an audience, and why didn't he challenge his fellow panelist Clare Short MP when she reportedly called for a boycott of Israel? Does Danny think Israel should be boycotted?" he asked.