http://www.rense.com/general12/cmmasd.htm
Zionism Removed From
UN Racism Communique
8-19-1
GENEVA - Diplomats say they've removed
anti-Israeli remarks in a statement
being prepared for a United Nations conference
on racism at the end of the
month.
The United States and Israel had both threatened
to boycott the meeting, set
to begin in Durban, South Africa on Aug.
31, unless the text was changed.
Arab states wanted the document to single
out Israel as a "racist" occupying
power, but the UN doesn't equate Zionism
with racism so the final communique
was changed.
Not all hurdles have been removed, however.
Officials are still wrangling
over how to address recent bloodshed in
the Middle East without offending
either side.
Last week in Geneva, negotiations over
the exact wording of the conference's
final document collapsed. More negotiations
are scheduled.
Even if the sensitive issue of language
is dealt with, a boycott may still go
ahead. The United States is
also upset over a plan to include colonial
slavery and victims' reparations on the
conference's agenda.
It's not the first time Washington has
bickered with UN officials over topics
for a meeting on racism. The U.S. boycotted
two previous conferences for
similar reasons.
