Record number of countries absent from UN Durban Event

A record number of countries are absent from the UN Durban event marking 25 years since the conference. Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon stated the message to the UN is clear: 'The world will not celebrate antisemitism,' after dozens of countries refused to participate. The Durban conference, held in 2001, was marred by antisemitic incidents and a draft declaration equating Zionism with racism, leading to a lasting boycott by several countries. This year's absence rate is the highest since the conference began.

A record number of countries are absent from the UN Durban event, which marks 25 years since the original conference. Israeli Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, stated that the message to the UN is clear: 'The world will not celebrate antisemitism.' This follows dozens of countries refusing to participate in the event, which Israel and many Western nations have long criticized as a platform for antisemitism and anti-Israel rhetoric. The Durban conference, held in 2001, was marred by antisemitic incidents and a draft declaration equating Zionism with racism, leading to a lasting boycott by several countries.