New York, NY, February 16, 2009 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) expressed concern over the decision by the Obama administration to send a delegation to Geneva to assess the chances of obtaining significant changes in the draft declaration to be presented for adoption at the UN-sponsored Durban Review Conference to be held in Geneva in April, saying “the Durban Review process is deeply biased against Israel and there is no likelihood of a good outcome.” The draft declaration under negotiation unfairly singles out Israel for condemnation and establishes what amounts to a global blasphemy code.

Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, issued the following statement:

After months of negotiations over the draft declaration, and having concluded that the Durban Review process is deeply biased against Israel and there is no likelihood of a good outcome, we urge responsible nations not to participate in the conference in Geneva. Several European countries and other nations have pressed hard to delete the offending passages without success. Many of them have said they will not participate if the changes are not made. U.S. entry into the process at this time risks extending the negotiations and delaying the withdrawal of those countries.

While we understand the pressure on the U.S. to go to Geneva, we urge America not to participate in a fatally flawed UN racism conference that demonizes Israel by singling it out for condemnation and urge the Obama administration to act quickly to let other nations know where the U.S. stands.

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.