UN to mark 25th anniversary of South Africa's Durban Conference criticized for antisemitic rhetoric

The United Nations plans to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the 2001 Durban Conference in South Africa on Monday in New York. This event is the focus of criticism from Israel and the United States, who protested against the antisemitic rhetoric and attacks on Israel that took place during the original gathering.

Israel's ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, has been working to limit the scope of the commemorative event. As a result, the event will be confined to official working hours, with no additional panels, interactive discussions exceeding one hour, or a closing session.

The original Durban Conference aimed to combat racism and discrimination. However, both Israel and the United States withdrew in protest over the treatment of Israel and the language being discussed. A separate forum of non-governmental organizations also drew criticism for its antisemitic and anti-Israel rhetoric during the event.

Danon expressed his disappointment in the UN's decision to commemorate the anniversary, stating that the organization has not learned its lesson from Durban. He claimed that the conference was not a fight against racism, but rather a platform for antisemitism and hatred towards Israel. Danon urged countries committed to combating racism to reject participation in the commemoration.

In response to the planned event, Israel will continue to challenge the attempt to downplay antisemitism within the United Nations.