Israel said it would not participate in the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination opening here tomorrow. In a statement, the Israeli Mission to the United Nations office in Geneva noted that “in 1974 the United Nations Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination was irremediably stained by the infamous resolution against Zionism. Israel then announced that it would withhold all cooperation with the program of the Decade, including the World Conference to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination. This position was taken as a matter of principle and was since consistently upheld.”
At the same time, the statement said, “Israel reaffirms its unswerving opposition to all notions and forms of racial discrimination. Israel, faithful to the Jewish traditions of equality and dignity, remains committed to every effort sincerely intended to ban hatred and prejudice between races, creeds and peoples and to spread among them understanding and harmony.”
The U.S. also announced it would not participate in the conference for the same reason.
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