Italy, France, Germany, and Spain in an unusual decision regarding Israel at the UN: "A shameful remembrance gathering"

Italy, France, Germany, and Spain boycotted the UN conference marking 25 years since the Durban Declaration, which US Ambassador Mike Waltz called "a shameful remembrance gathering." More than 40 countries were absent from the event, following an Israeli diplomatic effort to expand the boycott. Germany explained its absence by citing the past exploitation of the process to spread antisemitism.

Italy, France, Germany, and Spain boycotted the UN conference marking 25 years since the Durban Declaration, which US Ambassador to the UN, Mike Waltz, called "a shameful remembrance gathering." According to reports, more than 40 countries were absent from the conference, a number exceeding the 38 countries that missed the 20th anniversary events in 2021. The Israeli mission to the UN stated that the boycott resulted from a diplomatic effort led by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Germany clarified that it supports the declared goals of the Durban process but opposes the way it has been exploited in the past, serving repeatedly as a platform for antisemitic statements, and therefore also refrained from participating in follow-up conferences held over the years. France and other countries took a similar stance. The article provides background on the Durban process, which began at the World Conference against Racism in South Africa in 2001, and was accompanied by conflicts over the treatment of Israel, including accusations of racism and formulations linking Zionism to racism that were removed from the final text. The United States and Israel withdrew from the original conference in protest.

Italy, France, Germany, and Spain in an unusual decision regarding Israel at the UN: "A shameful remembrance gathering"