[tadamon-l] Press Release re Durban Review Conference

[Canadian Arab Federation]

Press Release - For immediate release

October 15, 2008


Independent Jewish Voices (Canada)

 

 

Jewish solidarity group urges Canadian gov't to

reverse decision to boycott Durban Review Conference

 

Geneva - Appearing before the Preparatory Committee for the Durban Review
Conference (Durban II), Independent Jewish Voices' Coordinator Diana Ralph
expressed her group's strong support for the Durban process. 

 

"Our organization, which represents 18 Jewish groups across Canada,
unconditionally endorses the World Conference Against Racism Review and
urges the government of Canada to reverse its decision to boycott these
crucial proceedings," Ralph declared.

 

In her statement before the Committee, Ralph explained that "Historically,
Jews have actively participated in struggles against Apartheid and other
forms of discrimination. Because we take anti-Semitism seriously, we object
to those who characterize legitimate criticism of Israel's discriminatory
policies as anti-Semitic."

 

The 2001 World Conference Against Racism, known as Durban I, focused on a
racist policies and practices around the world, including the plight of
Aboriginal people, migrants, refugees, asylum seekers, slavery, human
trafficking, and more. It called for action against the underlying causes of
racism: poverty, war, and global inequality. 

 

"The Durban Declaration and Programme of Action that was issued after Durban
I devoted fewer than 250 words to issues specifically addressing matters
involving Jews and Palestinians. It carefully balanced recognition of the
rights of Jews and Israel with those of Palestinians. There was no
anti-Semitic content in that report," Ralph emphasized. 

 

"The fact is that a handful of participants at the NGO conference held in
conjunction with Durban I engaged in a few, isolated instances of
anti-Semitic behaviour," Ralph stressed. "We unconditionally condemn these
and all other manifestations of bigotry, which was also overwhelmingly
rejected by the other NGOs and delegations that participated in Durban I,"
she underscored.

 

"Unfortunately, there has a systematic attempt to portray Durban I was an
'anti-Semitic hate-fest'," Ralph pointed out. "This stems from the fact that
at Durban some NGO participants and governments challenged Israel's racist
policies. Instead of addressing the substance of these charges, the
government of Israel and those who back it unconditionally chose to brand
those who levelled criticism of Israel at Durban as 'anti-Semitic'," she
noted.

 

"As Jews, we assert that it is entirely legitimate, not anti-Semitic, to
criticize Israeli policies that discriminate against Palestinians - not to
mention occupying, torturing, assassinating, and collectively punishing
them. Those who have been so critical of the Review appear intent upon
discrediting criticism of racist Israeli policies and practices - and to
prevent the governments of the US, Canada, and EU countries from being
pressured to redress historic and ongoing racist practices," Ralph
continued.

 

"It is our position that Jews of conscience must stand in solidarity with
all victims of racism. Our Basis of Unity states that there is no
justification for any form of racism, including anti-Semitism, anti-Arab
racism, or Islamophobia, under any circumstances and that the vital battle
against anti-Semitism is threatened whenever opposition to Israeli
government policies is automatically branded as anti-Semitic," Ralph
concluded.

 

-30-

 

Independent Jewish Voices 

P.O. Box 23088

Ottawa, Ontario K2A 4E2

ijv at magma.ca, www.independentjewishvoices.ca
<http://www.independentjewishvoices.ca/> 

 

For further information, please contact

 

Sid Shniad 604-314-5589 (cell)

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/tadamon-l/attachments/20081015/d0b6bc28/attachment-0001.htm