ZOA Applauds Rep. Garrett For Introducing Legislation To Prohibit Funding of “Durban II” Conference
News
April 24, 2008


Group of Congressmen Take Lead In Preventing US Funds


 From Going To UN To Subsidize The Durban Review Conference


And Its Extreme Anti-Israel Sentiments 


 


  


 New York — The Zionist Organization of America (ZOA) applauds Representative Scott Garrett (NJ-5) for introducing H.R. 5847, “The United Nations Durban Review Conference (Durban II) Funding Prohibition Act of 2008”  which seeks to prohibit US funds from supporting the follow-up conference to the 2001 Durban “United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.” We also comment the original cosponsors of this bill: Reps. Ted Poe (R-TX), Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI), Patrick McHenry (R- NC), Steve King (R-IA) Paul Broun (R-GA), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD),  Mike Pense (R-IN), Tom Feeney (R-Fl), John Shadegg (R-AZ), Dave Weldon (R-FL), Louie Gohmert (R-TX), Dan Lungren (R-CA), Randy Kuhl (R-NY), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), John Shumkus (R-IL), Virgil Goode (R-VA), and Rob Bishop (R-UT).

 

The “United Nations Durban Review Conference (Durban II) Funding Prohibition Act of 2008” will also reduce US contributions to the UN by “the amount allocated for the Durban II Conference and any other activity relating to the planning, preparation, or implementation of a follow-up meeting to the Durban I Conference.”


 


The legislation points out that the US, Canada and Israel will all be boycotting the “Durban II” conference if it promises to be a repeat of the anti-American, anti-Israel and anti-Semitic hate-fest that occurred in 2001.  The leader of the American Delegation at the time, Colin Powell, left the conference along with the entire US delegation, in protest of the rabid anti-Semitism and anti-Americanism that was exhibited.  This year is expected to be just as bad, perhaps even worse. Libya is the chair and Iran is a co-chair of the Preparatory Committee for the Durban II Conference.


 


Introducing this legislation, Rep. Garrett noted: “Once again the United Nations has failed to do its job of promoting freedom, prosperity and peace…The anti-Semitic talks in 2001 at the United Nations Durban Conference were horrendous. The people of Israel have been the victims of violence and terrorist attacks for far too long. The UN must not support the hateful rhetoric against Israel and its innocent civilians.  Israel should not be subjected to this racist talk at a UN Conference or at home in their own country…I call on other members of the United Nations to join America in condemning the Durban Conference for its racist rhetoric and disrespectful actions. It’s time that the world community stands up for the people of Israel. This conference is a disgrace; they should not be allowed to use United States taxpayer money to fund violent actions towards Israel.”


 



Daniel Pollak and Joshua London of the Division of Government Relations for the ZOA said: “We applaud Rep. Garrett for introducing this measure to ensure that US taxpayer dollars will not contribute to an international conference intent on condemning Israel and the United States, and generally fomenting hatred, racism, xenophobia, and intolerance.  The message of this bill, that the US rejects hatred, racism, and intolerance in all its forms, is exactly the right message to send to the international community. Considering the venomous nature of the anti-American and anti-Jewish filth on full display at the last UN sponsored confab in 2001, we hope this measure will receive broad bi-partisan support, and we urge House members to sign on as cosponsors of this important legislation. ”



ZOA National President Morton A. Klein said, “I commend Rep. Garrett for introducing legislation to prevent US taxpayer dollars from subsidizing such stupid and malicious anti-Israel and anti-Semitic discourse. At the 2001 conference, the UN allowed the proceedings to be captured by Arab and Muslim states and turned into an anti-Semitic, anti-Israel, and anti-American hate-fest. For the 2009 conference, the UN simply invited the anti-Semites to organize the meeting at the outset—the organizing committee is chaired by Libya, and is co-chaired by such anti-Israel and anti-American partners as Iran, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Cuba. Not one penny of US taxpayer dollars should be allowed to contribute to any of this.”


 

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