Israel Matzav

Durban's disgrace

Anne Bayefsky explains some of the duplicitous, disgraceful doubletalk that is being used to induce will western tools like Fwance to sign on to the Durban III declaration.

For instance, the new declaration is called “United against racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.” Except that, given how racism has been defined, the General Assembly is not united on the subject. It expresses much heartfelt concern for the “victims of racism” – except those words are the product of intense lobbying by Islamic states because the Durban Declaration says Palestinians are “victims” of Israeli racism. There is a harmless looking reference to “intolerance including its new forms and manifestations.” It was inserted because of the OIC/G-77 demanded the declaration cover Islamophobia and defamation of religion. As Egypt’s representative to the Human Rights Council back in March, “the denigration of religions is wrongly justified on the ground of the right to freedom of expression.”

The U.N. gamesmanship at work here is a form of art. Russia has been suggesting language for the new declaration that would denigrate free speech and place restrictions on the media. The OIC states, keen on denigrating Israel above all, have stepped in to propose a “middle ground” that purports to “give up” anti-free speech provisions in exchange for including cloaked Israel-bashing provisions. Belgium, Ireland, Norway, and Switzerland are seemingly anxious to sign on. And the French are delighted that the U.N.-speak has become convoluted enough for them to sign, too. And all the negotiators are careful simply to refer to the Israel-problem as the “sensitive” issue.

Try as they might, however, the sensitivity isn’t going away. The very mandate of Durban III, set out by a 2010 General Assembly resolution, is to “commemorate the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration…on the theme of victims of racism.” And the new declaration that will be adopted is “aimed at mobilizing political will… for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration…” A commemoration of a global anti-Semitic outburst.

Most “sensitive” is whether Durban III will “reaffirm” the Durban Declaration and its anti-Israel mantra. Reaffirming the Durban Declaration is supposed to be a redline for France and New Zealand. So Mexico suggested to enthusiastic negotiators on Tuesday the following concoction: “Recall that the aim of this commemoration is to mobilize political will…for the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration…and reaffirm our commitment in this regard.”

Get the difference? France will now justify its participation in Durban III by claiming that the Durban Declaration is only “recalled” and not “reaffirmed.” Except the commitment that has been reaffirmed is to the full and effective implementation of the Durban Declaration. And France quickly reassured the OIC/G-77 that the language satisfies their need to reaffirm the Declaration. Ireland called the solution “elegant” – which is one way of describing diplomatic deception.

Bayefsky also lists the countries that opposed convening Durban III but still plan on attending.

It’s time for the countries that refused to endorse the convening of Durban III only eight months ago, and have not left already, to do so immediately—Bulgaria, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Sweden, former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, the United Kingdom…

I'm surprised to see Bulgaria (I thought they would boycott) and Sweden (I thought they would just go for it) on that list. And I'm surprised not to see Greece and Cyprus (our supposed new friends) on either list.

Consistency anyone?

Labels: Durban III, Navi Pillay, racism

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 2:23 PM