Racism Conference Turns Into Fight Over Israel, Slavery

Sept. 2, 2001 -- A conference designed to address prejudice, racism and resentment has so far only exacerbated the very things it was meant to eradicate.

The U.N. World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa has been battling heated arguments over Israel and tensions in the Middle East as well as reparations for the ills and legacy of slavery.

Today, Israeli delegates threatened to leave the conference in protest over the final declaration from a human rights forum which branded the Jewish nation as a "racist apartheid" state.

The non-governmental organizaions (NGO) attending the forum heavily debated the wording of a resolution which was to be presented to the U.N. high commissioner for human rights.

Jewish and Christian groups walked out when it became clear that paragraphs in the resolution would condemn Israel for genocide against Palestinians.

"Jewish people came here from all over the world to take their place in the fight against racism and instead we have been painted as perpetrators," said Stacy Burdett of the Israeli Anti-Defamation league. "To call Zionism racism means that this conference recognizes the rights of every minority except Jews."

But Azmi Bishara, a Palestinian member of Israel's Knesset said "Our dealing with Zionism as a political ideology, I think, reflects a feeling of certain societies in the whole world."

Congressman Tom Lantos (D-Ca.) said that the NGO forum did not "measure up."

"It appeased the most extremist elements," he said. "We should have learned the lesson that when you appease extremists you lose."

South African President Thabo Mbeki told Reuters that aggressive diplomacyby the United States on Israel's behalf had beencounter-productive.

In an interview with Reuters, Mbeki said the extentto which the U.N. World Conference Against Racism had beendominated by the Middle East crisis was largely the result ofU.S. threats to boycott the 153-nation gathering.

"I think if the United States had said we do not agree withthis particular position, let's meet and discuss it, you wouldnot have had this," Mbeki told Reuters.

U.S. Sends Low-Level Delegation

The United States sent a low-level delegation to theconference and officials have threatened to leaveunless anti-Israeli language was taken out of the final declaration.

U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan has warned that the conference, intended to be an international landmark against discrimination will fail unless the heated disagreements are resolved.

Annan asked Belgium to spearhead attempts to bridge differences between African states and the developed world overreparations for slavery and colonialism.

U.S. and Britain have refused even an apology in fear that would leave them liable for monetary reparations.

African leaders asked their western counterparts to apologize for the destruction caused by colonialism and slavery, but were divided on the issue of reparations.

"I think it is important that we leave here with an agreement and as I have said, we will give comfort to the worst elements in every society if we were to fail," said Annan. "It is important that we do succeed."

But Annan admitted that the tensions threaten the very conference that was organized to help end such disagreements.

Delegates working on the documents were "making serious efforts to find compromise language," Annan said.

Annan has also asked Norway, which brokered the 1993 Oslo peace accord between Palestinians and Israel, to bridge Arab and U.S. and Israeli demands about language in the final documentation at the conference. U.S. and Israelis insist that Israel not be singled out for condemnation.

But there was not much room for hope today.

"The tenor and the tone which so clearly represented itself in the NGO yesterday, makes this conference, unless there is a last minute change, stand self-condemned," said Lantos.

ABCNEWS' Richard Gizbert contributed to this report.