Israel marks diplomatic victory as 33 countries boycott Durban IV conference

According to the Foreign Ministry in Jerusalem, 33 countries boycotted the Durban IV conference today in New York over concerns about anti-Semitism and because the platform would be exploited to attack Israel.
Catherine Labiran, the founder of The Praxis Project, addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration being held during the UN General Assembly 76th session General Debate at the United Nations Headquarters on Sept. 22, 2021 in New York.
Catherine Labiran, the founder of The Praxis Project, addresses a high-level meeting to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Durban Declaration being held during the UN General Assembly 76th session General Debate at the United Nations Headquarters on Sept. 22, 2021, in New York. - JUSTIN LANE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
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Rina Bassist
@RinaBassist

Thirty-three countries openly boycotted today the Durban IV conference in New York. Israel’s Foreign Minister Yair Lapid tweeted this morning, before the opening of the conference, "Following focused and successful diplomatic efforts by the Foreign Ministry, 30 countries are boycotting the anti-Semitic Durban conference that will open today in New York." The post was accompanied by a montage of the flags of the 30 countries boycotting, with the slogan "30 countries against the anti-Semitic Durban conference."

Lapid was referring to the Durban IV conference being held today in New York on the margins of the United Nation’s annual General Assembly. The conference marked the 20th anniversary of the Durban Declaration, which was adopted at the 2001 World Conference Against Racism.

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