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March 14, 2008
No free ride for anti-Semites
Canadian senator is planning a counter-conference to Durban II.
RHONDA SPIVAK
As the United Nations prepares for a follow-up conference in 2009 to its 2001 World Conference Against Racism, a Canadian senator has proposed a parallel counter-conference to combat anti-Semitism.
Participants and observers at Durban I, the 2001 UN conference, which was held in Durban, South Africa, were shocked at the extreme anti-Semitic rhetoric that typified the meeting.
"The idea is that wherever Durban II [the follow-up to Durban I] will be, there will be a one-day counter-conference [of human rights advocates] that focuses on anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, racism and anti-religious persecution," said Sen. Jerry Grafstein, who has initiated the counter- conference proposal.
The alternative get-together will serve as a corrective to Durban II, which Grafstein fears is likely to reprise the anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism that characterized the original conference. "This time, they [anti-Israel advocates] won't get a free ride," he said.
U.S. congressmen Alcee Hastings of Florida has agreed to join Grafstein as head of an organizing committee for the counter-conference. Hastings is co-chair of the Helsinki Commission in Washington of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe).
"I've had discussions with parliamentarians in Europe, Africa, the United States, Australia and Canada about a counter-conference, and the response has been very positive. Everyone likes the idea in principal," said Grafstein.
"There is particularly strong support in Germany, England and Spain among parliamentarians who are not Jewish," he added. "The more people [who] know about this, the more calls I get from people around the world who are interested in helping this initiative. This is very gratifying. I believe people and parliamentarians can make a difference if they work hard."
Already, people have signed on to assist in assembling a program of "outstanding international speakers," said Grafstein.
He explained that, since he initiated his proposal, Canada has decided not to attend Durban II, although it attended Durban I. He noted that Liberal Leader Stephane Dion has backed the official Canadian position and that Canada's refusal to attend "is a major step forward from the last time."
"Israel has also decided not to attend. The United States and France are considering their positions," Grafstein said.
Recently, Grafstein met with the Vatican representative of OSCE in Vienna. "They are giving active consideration as to whether they will participate," he said.
As word of the counter-conference circulates among nongovernmental organizations, more and more human rights organizations are contacting Grafstein to express their interest in attending and/or helping the initiative. "I have even heard from a human rights group in Kenya that wants to attend," he said.
In proposing a counter-conference, Grafstein said he was inspired by the 1936 "People's Olympiad," which was organized as a protest to the official Olympic Games being in Nazi Germany. "My father-in-law was involved in organizing that effort," he said.
The alternative competition, which was to have been held in Barcelona, was cancelled when Spain plunged into civil war.
In addition to focusing on anti-Semitism, Grafstein said that the counter-conference will also deal with religious persecution of Christians, Baha'i and others. There are a number of Arab countries that "are not only anti-Semitic but also have persecuted Christians and others," he said.
Rhonda Spivak is a Winnipeg freelance writer.
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