Israel said it will likely boycott next year’s United Nations conference on racism in Durban.
The 2009 World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance is slated to take place in the South Africa city where it was last held in 2001.
That event was marked by fierce anti-Zionist and pro-Arab agitation, leading Israel to watch preparations for the upcoming conference with concern.
Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni indicated Sunday that Jerusalem was not satisfied by the agenda of “Durban II.”
“Israel will not participate and not give legitimacy to the United Nations follow-up conference on racism, what is called Durban II, unless it is proven that the conference will not be used as a platform for further anti-Israeli and anti-Semitic activities,” she told delegates at a conference on anti-Semitism in Jerusalem.
Canada said last month it would boycott the racism conference in protest of its anticipated anti-Israel themes.
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