Walkout at UN conference after Iran president calls Israel 'racist'

Times Online (U.K.) ^ | April 20, 2009 | Philippe Naughton

[Schnucki]

British delegates joined a dramatic diplomatic walkout today when President Ahmadinejad of Iran told a major UN conference against racism that the state of Israel had been founded "on the pretext of Jewish suffering" during the Second World War.

Around 20 delegates, including envoys from the UK, France, Canada and Finland stood up and left the room at what was considered an anti-Semitic remark by the Iranian leader, who has repeatedly called for Israel to be wiped off the map.

Nine Western countries including Israel and the United States had already decided to boycott the conference entirely because its draft declaration endorsed the conclusions of an anti-racism conference in South Africa eight years ago in which Islamic nations pushed through a text equating Zionism with racism.

Even before the walkout, Mr Ahmadinejad's speech had been interrupted by three protesters dressed as clowns who where quickly bundled from the vast conference room at the Palais des Nations by guards.

Later, other protesters shouted down from the balcony as the Iranian president carried on his address.

Earlier today, Israel recalled its ambassador to Switzerland in protest at a brief meeting yesterday between Mr Ahmadinejad and his Swiss counterpart, Hans-Rudolf Merz.

The conference opened as Israel marks Holocaust Remembrance Day - which falls this year on the 120th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birth. This morning the Israeli Prime Minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, told his Cabinet that while Israel commemorates the six million Jews slaughtered 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".

An Israeli Government official said that Ilan Elgar, the ambassador in Berne, had been "recalled for consultations" after the start of the Durban II conference and the meeting between Mr Ahmadinejad

[FES0844]

They should have thrown him out.

[Unam Sanctam]

The conference opened as Israel marks Holocaust Remembrance Day - which falls this year on the 120th anniversary of Adolf Hitler's birth.

This UN conference to promote racism starts with Ahmedinejad's racist speech starts on Holocause Remembrance Day? That cannot be a coincidence, but a deliberate, racist slap in the face of the Jewish people.

[junta]

Major breach of protocol only whites can be called “racist.” Whatever that means.

[Kakaze]

I’m glad to hear we were not there to start with.

[MrB]

I suppose, in the twisted mindset of a Muslim,
the Jews refusing to commit mass suicide is
“racist”.

These guys have been learning from our race mongers here in America.

[babygene]

“Around 20 delegates, including envoys from the UK, France, Canada and Finland stood up and left the room at what was considered an anti-Semitic remark by the Iranian leader, who has repeatedly called for Israel to be wiped off the map.”

So... Did the U.S. walk out? Somehow I doubt it, with Osama- Obama in charge.

[KansasConservative1]

I thought we were buddies with Iran now that Obama apologized for everything that the US “did to the world”. Why isn’t Iran playing nice now... (/sarc)

[RonF]

Nine Western countries including Israel and the United States had already decided to boycott the conference entirely ...

You can't walk out if you're not there in the first place.

[KansasConservative1]

Did the U.S. walk out?

The US did not attend

[agere_contra]

The US boycotted it, I think.

Glad to see this walkout.

[Neoliberalnot]

BO would probably offer to lick his boots.

[Non-Sequitur]

So... Did the U.S. walk out? Somehow I doubt it, with Osama- Obama in charge.

Read the article. The U.S. boycotted the speech so we weren't there to begin with. They knew in advance what the content was.

[Osage Orange]

Which was amazing..........

IF...the U.S. had any sense whatsoever...we would get out of the U.N.

If nothing more...kick them OUT of the U.S.

I'm dreaming...I know.

[STARWISE]

When you stand for nothing, you'll fall for anything

[Cicero]

Bush boycotted these racist meetings regularly. At first, Obama said that he wanted to attend, so the US could contribute something constructive. But then he evidently changed his mind and decided not to attend.

I think Obama plans to betray Israel, but he needs to change course gradually to avoid political damage.

[bethybabes69]

That cannot be a coincidence, but a deliberate, racist slap in the face of the Jewish people.

That's exactly what it was, the UN should be disbanded, it's the most ridiculously obscene and useless entity of inter-Country communication.

It's time modern Country's started pulling out from supporting this racist-sympathising façade of an organisation.

[bethybabes69]

Video Links HERE

[SunkenCiv]

Iran’s President Slams Israel, Prompts Walkouts (Durban II)
WSJ/AP | 4/20/2009
Posted on 04/20/2009 7:47:40 AM PDT by SonOfDarkSkies
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2233392/posts

[SJackson]

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