White House to Jewish leaders: US won't attend 'Durban II'

WASHINGTON – Senior White House officials informed prominent members of the Jewish community that the US will boycott the World Conference against Racism next week in Geneva unless a draft conference document viewed as hostile toward Israel is amended.

UN Ambassador Susan Rice, Samantha Power - top advisor to President Barack Obama - and Director for Near East Affairs at the National Security Council Dan Shapiro informed the Jewish leaders of the decision during a conference call held on Wednesday.

One of the Jewish leaders said he was "relieved", but did not elaborate on the conversation.

The preliminary conference document, which was initiated by Iran, Cuba and other third world countries, ran 45 pages and called for reparations for slavery, condemned the "validation of Islamophobia," and asserted that Israel's treatment of the Palestinians is grounded in racism.

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http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3701648,00.html

Just wondered.