U.S., Israel pull out of Durban meet

DURBAN, SEPT. 3. Resenting the ``hateful language'' used against Israel in the final declaration, the United States today pulled out of the World Conference Against Racism declaring that the global meet had been hijacked by ``rigid and extremist'' Arab countries wanting to equate Zionism with racism.

Israel also announced it was withdrawing from the meet protesting anti-Israel and anti-Semitic remarks.

``The U.S. delegation consisting of both Republicans and Democrats are in full agreement with this decision,'' Mr. Tom Lantos, a Democrat Congressman, told reporters here while announcing the decision.

The U.S. Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, said in a statement released here that ``...You do not combat racism by a conference that produces declarations containing hateful language...''

Arab countries and non-governmental organisations had pressed for tough wordings in the meet's final document against Israel and the U.S. action came after efforts for a compromise apparently failed.

The U.S. delegates to the conference insisted on deletion of four clauses from the draft declaration condemning Israel for its actions in West Asia.

Preparing for `jihad'

An appeal, signed by Rabbi Francois Garai and historian Mr. David Littman, who represent the World Union for Progressive Judaism at the U.N.'s European headquarters in Geneva, said the Durban conference was being used to prepare a `holy war' against Israel and could wreck the world body.

``The U.N. is now undergoing its most shameful metamorphosis since its creation in 1945,'' said the appeal. ``Will you allow a U.N. conference intended to combat racism and discrimination to be brazenly hijacked by dictatorial regimes and mass demagogic NGO groups, thereby preparing a `final solution', `jihad', against Israel...,'' they asked.

Host regrets

Regretting the U.S. decision, hosts South Africa said ``the withdrawal (of the U.S. or any other delegation) was unfortunate and unnecessary.

The Minister in the office of the Presidency, Mr. Essop Pahad, said it was regrettable that the U.S. and Israel had pulled out, adding, ``the work of the conference will not be affected. We still have the declaration and the programme of action to be finalised. You must understand that the US did not attend the last two world conferences against racism. Its action did not affect the past two conferences and it will not affect this one.''

The American action has come in for severe criticism from African-American leaders who are attending the conference as well as individuals and representatives of civil society.

``The American Government has once again shot itself in the feet. Instead of taking an active part in the deliberations it has chosen to play bully,'' said Rev. Jesse Jackson, former Presidential candidate and leader of the rainbow coalition.

- PTI, AP, Reuters

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