Anti-Israel Agenda Politicizes the U.N.

Hussein Ibish unfortunately uses the Durban conference as an opportunity to further an anti-Israel political agenda (“Old Slogan Isn’t the Full Story,” Commentary, Aug. 24). Singling out Israel for attack and politicizing the U.N. Conference undermine the conference’s worthy humanitarian mission and deprive the most vulnerable victims of racism of an important opportunity to voice their concerns. It would be tragic to squander the hope and promise of progress in the fight against racism for the sake of a one-sided debate on just one of the world’s many political conflicts.

Israel is a nation rooted in freedom, democracy, equality and social justice. Regardless of differences about how to approach a solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict, branding Israel’s existence as a form of racism is misplaced and counterproductive to the cause of both Middle East peace and the fight against racism.