Ahmadinejad, Durban II, and Holocaust Remembrance Day

I said something nice about Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yesterday, when he urged that Roxana Saberi be released. That was then. His performance at the "Durban II" UN Conference on racism in Geneva is not in the same vein. European delgates walked out during his speech denouncing Israel, though some European countries (the Netherlands, Italy, Germany) have joined the US, Canada, and Australia (and Israel) in refusing to attend. Ahmadinejad is the only head of state attending, and is clearly using the opportunity to shore up his anti-Zionist credentials.

Israel's policies towards Palestinians, and its occupation, are fair game for criticism, but when denunciations of Zionism reach the point of denying the state's very right to exist — and while Ahmadinejad may phrase his rhetoric so as to leave some room for debate about what he means, he certainly seems to be saying that — it raises some question about why the United Nations should provide a forum for denunciations of a member state of the organization, a member state created, in fact, under UN aegis. "Durban II" has become a propaganda sounding board rather than a real international conference.

One particularly egregious aspect I had not picked up on until the past few days is that Durban II was scheduled to coincide with Israel's marking of Holocaust Remembrance Day. That coincidence, if it is a coincidence, has added to Israeli anger over the meeting.

Again, criticism of Israel for its policies is fine. As a nation among the nations of the world, it is responsible for its choices and may be criticized for its excesses. But this goes beyond that, and the timing seems downright provocative. It does nothing to further the cause of peace; if anything it exacerbates present tensions by deliberate provocation. (Did I mention today is also Hitler's birthday?)

There is plenty to criticize about Israel's operations in Gaza early this year and its overall record of occupation, but how does this conference advance things towards amerlioration of that occupation or towards a just solution? It merely rubs salt into open wounds.