The UN conference became an antisemitic symbol - and the shameful decision brings it back to life | Shlomo Shamir

The UN approved by a majority of 95 countries a resolution calling for the full implementation of the 2001 Durban Conference, officially named the "UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance". Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon attacked the resolution as an attempt to grant renewed legitimacy to antisemitism. Danon initiated the establishment of a coalition of countries to combat antisemitism, against the backdrop of a 136% increase in antisemitic incidents in seven countries with large Jewish populations.

The UN approved by a majority of 95 countries (5 against, 37 abstentions) a resolution calling for the full implementation of the 2001 Durban Conference. The Durban Conference, officially named the "UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance", has since its inception become a distinctly antisemitic institution, according to the author. During the original conference, images of Hitler were distributed, Zionism was equated with racism, and Jewish participants were physically attacked. Israel's UN Ambassador Danny Danon attacked the resolution as an attempt to grant renewed legitimacy to the conference. "The Durban Conference was supposed to fight racism but became a display of antisemitism and hatred of Israel," he said. Danon initiated the establishment of a coalition of countries to combat antisemitism, against the backdrop of a 136% increase in antisemitic incidents in seven countries with large Jewish populations. The initiative also takes place against the backdrop of candidates vying for the position of new UN Secretary-General as Guterres' term ends. The US and Israel withdrew from the original conference at the time.