Britain walks out of conference as Ahmadinejad calls Israel 'racist'

**Ali.** · 04-20-2009

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Dozens of diplomats, including Britain's UN ambassador in Geneva, walked out of a speech by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad this afternoon when the Iranian president accused Israel of being "a totally racist" regime.

The address at a UN conference on racism in Geneva was disrupted by protesters who heckled Ahmadinejad after he branded Israel a "cruel and oppressive racist regime". He said the state of Israel was created "on the pretext of Jewish suffering" from the second world war.

Peter Gooderham, the UK ambassador to the UN in Geneva, walked out along with representatives from France, Spain and several other European countries. One shook his fist at the Iranian president as he left. The delegates said they planned to return to the session as soon as Ahmadinejad had finished speaking.

European countries had been split over whether to attend amid fears Ahmadinejad and other delegates could ignite a new row over the Holocaust or Israel's right to exist.

Germany, Poland and the Netherlands were joining a boycott led by the US and Israel. France and Britain attended but promised to walk out of the conference if offensive language was used at the podium.

The protesters leapt to their feet and shouted "racist" in French at Ahmadinejad when he made his remarks about the state of Israel.

Some wore clown wigs and one, who was positioned among the delegates, managed to run to within 10 yards of the Iranian president before throwing a soft red object, hitting the podium and interrupting his speech. The protester was ushered out by security.

The protesters said they represented the Union of Jewish Students in France. "We did it because it's all a farce," Joelle Jakubowicz said. "You can't fight racism if you are racist yourself."

France's foreign minister, Bernard Kouchner, speaking before Ahmadinejad's speech, said "we will not tolerate any blunder or provocation" from Ahmadinejad, who has referred to the Holocaust as a myth and called for Israel to be "wiped off the pages of history".

If Ahmadinejad "proffers any racist or antisemitic accusations we will leave the hall immediately", Kouchner said.

The Iranian president, the only head of state at the conference, is due to give a press conference today, which coincides with the start of Israel's Holocaust Remembrance Day.

The Foreign Office said in a statement, also released before the speech: "The United Kingdom has argued strongly for the concluding document to contain adequate language on Holocaust remembrance and combating antisemitism. We will find unacceptable any attempt to use the Durban process to trivialise or deny the Holocaust, or to renegotiate agreements on the fight against antisemitism."

A flurry of late-night telephone calls between European foreign ministries failed to salvage what British officials hoped would be a common European position, amid growing unease about what Ahmadinejad would say and fears that a draft text from the UN anti-racism conference would single out Israel and call for bans on the freedom to express criticism of religion.

Israel today announced it was recalling its ambassador to Switzerland for consultations. Israel's prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, said that while Israel would be commemorating 6 million Jews killed by the Nazis, "in Switzerland the guest of honour is a racist and a Holocaust denier who doesn't conceal his intention to wipe Israel off the face of this Earth".

The US said on Saturday that it would not be attending today's UN conference because of what Washington said was "objectionable" language in a draft statement. The Geneva meeting is known as the Durban Review Conference because it is intended to follow up a world conference against racism held in the South African city eight years ago, when the US and Israel walked out in anger at attempts to equate Zionism with racism.

One person not boycotting the conference was the film star Jon Voight, a staunch supporter of Israel who said he had come to confront Ahmadinejad's position on the Holocaust. Voight told the Guardian: "The fox is in charge of the hen house here. This is supposed to be about human rights, but hidden under that banner is antisemitism. Someone has to respond to it."

The draft statement for this week's conference does not single out Israel but formally upholds the 2001 declaration, which does. The UN high commissioner for human rights, Navi Pillay, said she was "shocked and deeply disappointed" by the US boycott. On the Guardian's Comment is Free website today, Pillay concedes that the 2001 meeting has been "tainted by the antisemitic behaviour of some NGOs on the sidelines", but she argues that the best way to tackle such issues is to participate in this week's meeting.

That position was echoed today by Human Rights Watch. Juliette de Rivero, the group's Geneva advocacy director, said: "The sad truth is that countries professing to want to avoid a reprise of the contentious 2001 racism conference are now the ones triggering the collapse of a global consensus on the fight against racism."

British officials say the current draft text is acceptable if "adequate language" is included on the Holocaust and antisemitism, but they are also anxious to retain European solidarity.

Ahmadinejad's speech and press conference will be carefully scrutinised for his tone towards the US after Barack Obama's recent overtures to Tehran.

The Iranian president has ruled out compromise on Iran's nuclear programme, but has occasionally raised hopes of a thaw in US-Iranian relations, as he did yesterday when he insisted that an Iranian-American journalist, sentenced by an Iranian court to eight years in prison on espionage charges, should be guaranteed the full right to defend herself in her appeal. The Iranian government today urged Obama not to comment on the case.

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**Sahabiyaat** · 04-22-2009

Originally Posted by KAding

. Muslims should not marry non-Muslim- Non-muslims may not proselytize
- Muslims may not convert away from Islam
- Non-muslims may not enter Mecca
- The belief that non-Muslims cannot be moral- Some even believe Muslims should not make non-Muslim friends
- Non-Muslims deserve to burn in Hell for eternity- Widespread belief that no new churches or temples should be allowed to be build in Muslim lands

Muslims may not convert away from Islam

There is a difference of opinion on apostasy.Some say it is punishable by death others say its not.

The belief that non-Muslims cannot be moral

You are mistaken.There are numerous verses in the Quran commending the moral behaviour of say for e.g christians >

[“And you will find the nearest of them in affection to those who believe (to be) those who say: ‘We are Christians. That is because there are among them priests and monks, and because they are not proud” (5:82).

If your talking about all other 'kafirs', I think everyone is capeable of morality, the question is the acceptance of this morality by God, which ofcourse lies with God alone.

.There will always be differences of opinion.

Non-muslims may not proselytize

Sure you can

.We just refuse to comply and it pisses you off dont it?

Muslims should not marry non-Muslim

Once again, sure you can. It is permissable for muslim men to marry from people of the book, jewish and christian women, whilst they retain their faith, the idea being that eventually they will follow their husband.As for others, they must first revert to Islam in order to marry a muslim man or woman, not because we have a phobia of them!, but because the Quran does not include them in its injunction.

The reason why women cant marry non muslims at alll without them first reverting is that the child follows that religion of his father, and so would be quite disastrous for Islam, if this were allowed.

Some even believe Muslims should not make non-Muslim friends

We are commanded to be pleasant and equitable to ALL. You must be referring to the Quranic injunction saying 'do not take them as your friends', this only means 'be cautious', not 'be unfriendly'.

Non-Muslims deserve to burn in Hell for eternity

Whether anyone, muslim or non muslim, is deserving of hell, rests with God alone

Widespread belief that no new churches or temples should be allowed to be build in Muslim lands

Non-muslims may not enter Mecca

I am unsure of the correct reasoning behind these.

**Whatsthepoint** · 04-22-2009

This year Israel will send a Hebrew-Arab singing duo to the Eurovision song Contest.

**Cabdullahi** · 04-22-2009

Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint

This year Israel will send a Hebrew-Arab singing duo to the Eurovision song Contest.

a hebrew and an arab....to a song contest are you sure??...it was that UFC contest

**Whatsthepoint** · 04-22-2009

Originally Posted by Abdullahii

a hebrew and an arab....to a song contest are you sure??...it was that UFC contest

An Israeli and an arab Israeli singing "There Must Be Another Way"

**Najm** · 04-22-2009

Originally Posted by Whatsthepoint

An Israeli and an arab Israeli singing "There Must Be Another Way"

Peace!

Yes there must be another way!!! It surely aint the Isreali way

**Whatsthepoint** · 04-22-2009

Here they are.
Mira Awad, an Israeli Arab, is on the right.

**memories** · 04-23-2009

ahmadinejad has no right nor proof to call israel racist, you ppl need to get off the jews back, they suffered enough in ww2.
besides, coexistence would be possible if gaza and the militants stoped fiering rockets on israel of cours israel has its way to go to, but the rest of the world is hoping for peace, not a bloody war that would end with the biblical apocalypse or soething....

**aadil77** · 04-23-2009

Originally Posted by memories

ahmadinejad has no right nor proof to call israel racist, you ppl need to get off the jews back

Proof is the creation of israel, everyone has a right to their views and its zionists we hate not the jews.

**memories** · 04-23-2009

you have your views, but would it not be great if peace and coexistence would be possible there, do you think not, or do you think it impossible.i mean, im tired of hearing on the news about that conflict, of course ther's some extremists on both side, and it is that wich i hate, extremists, they are the ones prolongating the conflict and further ensuring te loss of innocent lives. dont you think?

**AntiKarateKid** · 04-23-2009

Originally Posted by memories

ahmadinejad has no right nor proof to call israel racist, you ppl need to get off the jews back, they suffered enough in ww2.
besides, coexistence would be possible if gaza and the militants stoped fiering rockets on israel of cours israel has its way to go to, but the rest of the world is hoping for peace, not a bloody war that would end with the biblical apocalypse or soething....

Have you ever thought that there are Jews who oppose Israel? That criticizing a government doesn't amount to critisizing the most populous race in that country?

Get real.

I've never heard anyone ever say "OMG stop criticizing Sudan, you need to get off of the black ppl'z back"

Just because they are MOSTLY Jewish doesn't mean they are exempt from criticism.

P.S. THe militants have been firing these rockets for decades now. Guess what? THose rockets are their meagre way at retailiating against hte Israeli military juggernaut.

Total Israelies killed by Militant rockets: 30-50

Total Palestinians killed by Israeli tanks/airstrikes/bombs/etc: Tens of thousands, probably above 100000

**AntiKarateKid** · 04-23-2009

Originally Posted by memories

you have your views, but would it not be great if peace and coexistence would be possible there, do you think not, or do you think it impossible.i mean, im tired of hearing on the news about that conflict, of course ther's some extremists on both side, and it is that wich i hate, extremists, they are the ones prolongating the conflict and further ensuring te loss of innocent lives. dont you think?

And you are the same person saying "Get off the Jew's back."

How do you expect us to solve a problem when you protest even critique of the parties involved?

You are the one protecting one of the "extremist" sides here.

**Muezzin** · 04-23-2009

Originally Posted by KAding

The whole conference was flawed for different reasons than just the obsessive focus on Israel.

It was set up with the specific intention of squashing anti-religious sentiments, in particular "islamophobia, anti-semitism and christianophobia".

Funny. I'd think Geneva's 'anti-racism' conference would be specifically about... anti-racism.

I don't know where you're getting the idea it's 'specifically' to squash anti-religious sentiments. Projection, perhaps.

Why wasn't kafirophobia included in that list? Once again religions are demanding more and special protection compared to non-theistic beliefs.

Where are religions (as autonomous entities, no less) demanding more and special protection in this case?

All of this criticism of the West is also rich from countries were converting away from Islam is a crime, who don't even allow political opposition and who don't even respect basic civil liberties.

Well, isn't that kind of the point of these kinds of diplomatic efforts? To provide a platform to address such concerns?

**جوري** · 04-23-2009

Originally Posted by memories

ahmadinejad has no right nor proof to call israel racist, you ppl need to get off the jews back, they suffered enough in ww2.

I personally prefer war criminals and racial exterminators amongst other things, but I am curious who made them suffer during WWII? Astonishing that they should be made a Palestinian problem, rather than a German or western one?

besides, coexistence would be possible if gaza and the militants stoped fiering rockets on israel of cours israel has its way to go to, but the rest of the world is hoping for peace, not a bloody war that would end with the biblical apocalypse or soething....

You are very undereducated.. I am not sure it is even worth it to dignify this level of stupidity with a response!
but then I can't get past your descriptive linguistics to find value in your views!

all the best

**جوري** · 04-23-2009

Originally Posted by KAding

Interesting point. From what I remember it is actually possible to convert to Judaism and it seems conversion is enough to get Israeli citizenship.

How many folks converted to Judaism that you know of? can we say a catch 22?

So in theory Israeli immigration law isn't purely racial as such. It primarily discriminates on religious grounds apparently. Better I suppose, since it isn't as exclusive as ethnic discrimination. I think Israel is in a fairly exclusive club there, with countries like Saudi Arabia?

Another flawed premise, given that Saudi Arabia is a sovereign state, while the colonial settler cockroach state is well, a colonial settler cockroach state!.. seems about the only folks who recognize it as a sovereign state are folks who would rather hang their crap on anyone else than owning up to what they have done allegedly during WWII?!

As far as Israel calling itself a "Jewish State" is concerned. Again, it has a lot in common with it's Middle Eastern neighboring countries, who almost all consider themselves "Islamic" and call themselves as such in their constitutions. Sounds to me like Israel is right at home in the Middle East :P.

No, it has no relation to its neighboring countries whatsoever.. especially that given any application process where the colonial settler state is involved is always classified under "Europe" rather than the middle east..
also given all the money funneled them to establish their 'unique identity' I'd say they'd do anything to distinguish themselves from their neighbors rather than take cover to the same umbrella!

all the best

**memories** · 04-23-2009

look fellas.. all i was trying to say was that peace is preferable to war and camped positions.
and by the way its not the helpless population of the gaza strip that are doing the rocket launching its the outlaw minority of extremists,and the majority is not on the side of the extremists.(the folowing article explains more in details

The alleged militant group familiarly known as “Taliban” was declared “out of Islam” by 73 different sects of Muslims through an edict (Fatwa) circulated in parts of the narrow tribal strip of Darra Adamkhel.

The edict in Urdu language was circulated on behalf of Mufti Zainul Aabideen on Friday night. The one page edict focuses on Talibans’s terrorists’ acts in the area, particularly slaughtering of human beings and suicide attacks.

…

It is for the first time that a religious scholar declared “Taliban” as being “out of Islam.” The edict said that all the acts of Taliban are against the basic norms of Islam and humanity. “Even the Taliban leaders are considering themselves and their directives as superior to true Islamic principles and directives as ordained by Almighty Allah,” the edict said.

This rejection of the massacring of humans in general, and fellow Muslim would seem to be an even worse sin, is a signal the Taliban and al-Qaeda are creating the same local backlash they did in Iraq. Pakistan’s tribal areas, as well as Afghanistan’s portion of this region, are starting to realize al-Qaeda and their brethren in the Taliban are not the future of Islam, but the enemy. And this has come about because America pressed these Islamo Fascists in their own lands, which caused them to expose their true evil through their atrocities against humanity. This would never have come about through appeasement and just letting the movements grow in popularity and support. I came about because of the tough and hard policies of George W Bush.