Nations preparing for the U.N. World Conference Against
Racism are negotiating the language of a Declaration that will serve as a guide
to future generations in addressing racism around the world. The Draft
Declaration and Program of Action – still subject to revision – railed
against what is termed "racist Zionist practices" and "Zionist
practices against Semites." The Declaration equates the Holocaust with
"ethnic cleansing of the Arab population in historic Palestine."
Key Excerpts Dealing Specifically with Zionism, Israel and the Holocaust
(as of July 5, 2001)
Note: Red text in brackets [] indicates language under negotiation.
PP30 [Reaffirming that colonization
by settlers and foreign occupation constitute sources, causes and forms of
racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance;]
(Ongoing, Prep. Com.2)
29. All States must acknowledge the suffering caused by lack of
respect for the equality of human beings manifested through wars, genocide,
holocaust, apartheid, ethnic cleansing and other atrocities. All States must
reject/prevent and punish ethnic and religious cleansing and genocide in all
regions of the world and work together to prevent their recurrence. [The
(holocausts/Holocaust) and the ethnic cleansing of the Arab population in
historic Palestine…must never be forgotten;]
30. [We affirm that a foreign occupation
founded on settlements, its laws based on racial discrimination, with the aim of
continuing domination on the occupied territory, as well as its practices which
consist of reinforcing a total military blockade, isolating towns, cities and
villages under occupation from each other, totally contradict the purposes and
principles of the Charter of the United Nations and constitute a serious
violation of international human rights and humanitarian law, a new kind of
apartheid, a crime against humanity and a serious threat to international peace
and security;]
33. We salute and acknowledge the memory of all victims of
racism, and racial discrimination, xenophobia and related
intolerance, slavery and slave trade, colonialism, [holocausts/Holocaust],
[ethnic cleansing of the Arab population in historic
Palestine] and in Kosovo and apartheid and foreign occupation all over
the world and at all times;
60. [We express our deep concern about the
practices of racial discrimination against the Palestinians as well as other
inhabitants of the Arab occupied territories which have an impact on all aspects
of their daily existence such that they prevent the enjoyment of fundamental
rights, and call for the cessation of all the practices of racial discrimination
to which the Palestinians and the other inhabitants of the Arab territories
occupied by Israel are subjected];
62. [We are convinced that combating
anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and [Zionist practices
against Semitism] is integral and intrinsic to
opposing all forms of racism, stresses the necessity of effective measures to
address the issue of anti-Semitism, Islamophobia and [Zionist
practices against Semitism] today in order to
counter all manifestations of these phenomena;]
63. [We recognize with deep concern the
increase in anti-Semitism and hostile acts against Jews in various parts of the
world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism
and discriminatory ideas concerning the Jewish community.] [The
World Conference recognizes with deep concern the increase of racist practices
of Zionism, anti-Semitism in various parts of the world, as well as the
emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory
ideas, in particular, the Zionist movement which is based on racial superiority;]
112. We are conscious that humanity’s history is replete with
terrible wrongs inflicted through lack of respect for the equality of human
beings/through lack of recognition of human dignity and rights manifested
through [wars], [military
occupation by settlement] [and settlement policies],
genocide, slavery, in particular, the transatlantic slave trade, holocausts, [colonialism],
apartheid, ethnic cleansing and other atrocities, and we salute the memory of
their victims [and we understand/acknowledge the quest]
of/recognize the right of the victims and their heirs for justice, dignity,
respect and correction of, and compensation for, the historical
wrongs and their continuing consequences of historical wrongs]
[We call for open national and international dialogue as
required to address these concerns;]
102 [We recognize that States which
pursued policies or practices based on racial or national superiority, such as
colonial or other forms of alien domination or foreign occupation, slavery, the
slave trade and ethnic cleansing, should assume the responsibility therefore and
compensate the victims of such policies or practices;]
|