The rationale for the boycott: references to Israel in the draft resolution of the conference's final document.
Robert Wood, speaking on behalf of the US state department, said
the US would not participate in the conference unless its final statement does not criticise any one country or conflict. The US also did not want the document to take up the issue of reparations for slavery, which was another hot topic in the Durban 2001 conference.
Naturally, Tzipi Livni, Israel's foreign minister, is delighted.
"Under the fig leaf of combating racism, this conference is blatantly anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli," Livni said in a statement on Saturday.
"The decision of the United States should be an example to other countries that share our values."
Those values would include unstinting, unequivocal support for all things related in any way, shape or form to Israel. For to be otherwise is, of course, "anti-Semitic and anti-Israeli."
Naturally, pro-Israeli groups laud the US stern resolve.
"President [Barack] Obama's decision not to send US representation to the April event is the right thing to do and underscores America's unstinting commitment to combating intolerance and racism in all its forms and in all settings," the American Israel Public Affairs Committee said.
Ha ha ha ha ha ... canna catch my breath ... ha ha ha ha ha.
Canada, of course, obediently supports the boycott. Good boy, Harper, good boy.
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