Talk:World Conference against Racism
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At the conference, Yasser Arafat interpreted the Arab-Israeli conflict in terms of racism:
... We hope that the Conference will be a major historical turning point in the world to rid us of all forms of racism. Palestine is tormented by racial discrimination, occupation, aggression and settlements. I hope this Conference will say what is right in the face of the bloody tragedy which is a racist, colonialist conspiracy of aggression, forced eviction, usurpation of land and infringement upon the Christian and Islamic holy places. This conspiracy has thwarted all international instruments. The Government of Israel has usurped our rights, land and natural resources, and taken over Christian and Muslim holy sites. They have stolen our water. They have made refugees of many of our people and prevented their return. ... Our people face the most intense military campaign of a Government that insists on a military solution. This brutality and arrogance are moved by a supremacist mentality that practices racial discrimination, that adopts ethnic cleansing and transfer, and that protects the daily attacks carried out by the settlers against our people. Our tortured people, faced with the harsh treatment, looks at the Conference to stand by us. The continuing acts of racial discrimination call for a strong support for our people in its legitimate struggle for an independent state with Al-Quds as its capital and the right of return for our refugees. We still look forward to the return to the path of peace and to achieve these legitimate goals with a just, comprehensive and lasting peace for all the people of the region. [1]
I'm not sure what he means by a "supremacist mentality" on the part of Israelis running a Jewish state, that does not apply tenfold to Arabs running Islamic states. Is he saying that all states in the Middle East should stop discriminating? Or is he saying that Israel alone discriminates? --[[User:Ed Poor|Ed Poor]
What "Arab supremacy" you idiot? I don't see Arabs perpetrating genocide and ethnic cleansing of other people and stealing their land. Nor do I see them calling non-Muslims "goyim" and "cockroaches" and "animals with two legs" like your Jewish friends are doing.
[edit] NPOV dispute
This article clearly adopts a hostile view of the conference, because of the criticism of Israel. This can also be seen in the history of the article.
The following statements, in particular need to be backed up:
1. "Most of the conference, however, focused specifically on Israeli treatment of Palestinians"
2. "The result was that the conference did little to combat racism, but did allow politicians of various ilks to accuse each other of hypocrisy"
I remember the Durban conference, and it did basically degenerate into an Israel and colonialism bashing fest by the Third World countries. I believe both statements to be true, but they do need to be backed up. A mention should also be made of the massive NGO presence there, particularly the Ford Foundations actions with the Palestinian groups.
Surely, it wouldn't have anything to do with zionism and western imperialism being the epitome of racism, would it?
[edit] Conference was extremely biased
It's too bad they didn't focus this conference on islamic teachings of who the Jewish people are perceived to be. They also should have focused on the many racist incidents from state-sponsored media spewing hatred toward Jewish people and Zionists. Look at Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria they all refer to the Jewish people in a racist manner, they do not allow Jewish people to enter their country and have even passed laws that would not allow Jews to become citizens.
Isn't it ironic that the very people crying racism, the Muslim dictatorships, are the RACISTS!
