New York, NY, August 25, 2004 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today called a declaration passed at the 14th Ministerial Conference of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Durban, South Africa, barring Israeli settlers and goods produced in settlements "an old-style act of bias against the State of Israel." 

The declaration condemned Israel's security fence and called on it member states to: "to undertake measures, including by means of legislation, collectively, regionally and individually, to prevent any products of the illegal Israeli settlements from entering their markets consistent with the obligations under International Treaties, to decline entry to Israeli settlers, and to impose sanctions against companies and entities involved in the construction of the wall and other illegal activities in the Occupied Territory, including East Jerusalem." 

"With this resolution, the Non-Aligned Movement continues in its long tradition of bias against Israel and its one-sided approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director.  "Its call for the barring of entry to any Israeli resident of a settlement, and a boycott of goods produced in Israeli settlements is part of a long standing pattern. 

"As it has for decades, NAM, although claiming to promote a 'peaceful, political settlement of the conflict,' focuses solely on Israeli wrongs.  Israel's security barrier is condemned and Israel is chastised for poor treatment of Yasir Arafat.  Meanwhile, there is no mention of Palestinian terrorism, no mention of Israel's intention to disengage from the Gaza Strip."

The NAM is a bloc of 115 member nations "representing the interests and priorities of developing countries." 

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.