Jerusalem Post - 07.27.2001

 

The Jerusalem Post

US Jewish groups fighting anti-Israel Durban draft declaration

By Melissa Radler

NEW YORK (July 27) - US Jewish groups have been working overtime to ensure that anti-Jewish and anti-Israel rhetoric is deleted from the draft declaration of the United Nation's World Conference Against Racism, to be held in Durban, South Africa August 31 through September 7.

A third preparatory conference in Geneva, Switzerland is scheduled from July 30 to August 10 to tackle the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish issue.

Through a coalition coordinated by the Jewish Council for Public Affairs, Jewish organizations including the Anti-Defamation League, Hadassah, and B'nai B'rith International have been busy reaching out to foreign ministries, UN conference participants, US officials, non-governmental organizations, and human and civil rights groups to fight attempts to de-legitimize Israel and to resurrect "Zionism is Racism" language.

"This is one issue where everyone from Peace Now to the ZOA has expressed the exact same voice," said ADL associate director for government and national affairs Stacey Burdett.

In addition, representatives from the ADL, B'nai B'rith International, and the Simon Wiesenthal Center are scheduled to testify on Capitol Hill on Tuesday during a hearing of the House subcommittee on human rights regarding the conference.

"Everyone has different expertise, so we're trying to pull together everyone's strength for what is a very big job," said JCPA representative in Washington Reva Price, who noted that Hadassah had taken the lead in putting together meetings with UN delegates.

Hadassah gained familiarity with the UN while trying to join its Economic and Social Council.

Other connections being utilized are the Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism's civil rights links, the ADL's connections on Capitol Hill, and the NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States and Eurasia, which has been instrumental in setting up meetings with Jewish organizations and ambassadors from nations of former Soviet Union. The ADL has also set up a Web site (www.adl.org/durban), as a resource and guide to the anti-Israel and anti-Jewish aspects of the conference.

"People have been sympathetic to hearing what we have to say about Zionism," noted Sybil Kessler, a policy associate at Hadassah, who is scheduled to travel to Geneva next week.