European Jewish Congress - European Jewish Congress Calls on European Union to Boycott “Durban II”

Dr. Moshe Kantor, President of the European Jewish Congress, the umbrella organization for Jewish communities in Europe, called today upon the EU to show strong leadership and to boycott the upcoming UN Durban Review Conference (“Durban II”), scheduled to take place in Geneva in April.

Calling the language and tone of the Durban II Draft Outcome Document “completely unacceptable for an official UN document,” Kantor stated, “Now is the time for EU countries and leaders such as French President Nicolas Sarkozy, British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel to take the lead on issues of human rights and racism in the UN and to make a strong and clear stand against the Durban Review Conference.”

Kantor continued, “Durban II, as it currently stands, is an affront to all those seeking to ensure human rights and the eradication of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism. We applaud the United States for refusing to participate in this kangaroo court against Israel.”

He added, “There can be no turning back now from the hate-filled language included in the draft outcome document because there will be no more instances of negotiation before the actual conference.”

These issues and others will be raised in meetings to be held Wednesday between EJC leaders and the EU Presidency. In the meeting scheduled to be held with Czech Deputy Prime Minister for European Affairs, Alexander Vondra, the EJC will encourage the Czech Presidency of the European Union to disengage from Durban II, taking into account concerns already voiced by Denmark, the UK and the Netherlands.

Dr. Kantor added, “Freedom loving people everywhere deserve more than the hate-filled sessions that are being offered by the likes of Libya and Iran and their allies. It is time for European leaders to stand up for human rights and combat the perverse anti-Semitism that scapegoats Jews and Israel for all the world’s ills and announce now, today, that they will not take part in Durban II. The world is watching and waiting for European leadership on this issue.”