Statement by Israel in Explanation of Vote on U.S. Amendment on Durban

"The State of Israel will vote in favor of the U.S.-proposed amendment today, as we, too, cannot support an official UN commemoration of the Durban Declaration and Programme of Action (DDPA), or a call for the full implementation of the DDPA and its follow-up processes. The Durban conference, like so many other UN forums, which claim to advance human rights and combat racism, served to do the very opposite, by promoting antisemitism and anti-Israel hatred.

The State of Israel remains fully committed to eliminate racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance, and works unceasingly to protect and uphold human rights. Accordingly, we cannot, in good conscience, support a forum that served to spew intolerance and hatred rather than combat it, and we believe that it is inappropriate for the General Assembly to embrace and glorify this contentious event as well."