Reply #3: Boycott UN forum, says Israeli ex-envoy [View All]

[Scurrilous]

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"A FORMER senior Israeli diplomat, Dan Gillerman, has urged Kevin Rudd to cancel Australia's attendance at a United Nations forum on racism, saying it will be used as a platform to bash Israel.

In an interview with the Herald, Mr Gillerman, Israel's ambassador to the UN from 2003 until last September, also strongly rejected calls for war crimes investigations against Israeli commanders involved in the recent war in Gaza.

Speaking from Tel Aviv before a visit to Australia late this month, Mr Gillerman said this year's UN World Conference Against Racism, also known as Durban II, to be held in Geneva in April, was a charade.

"Keep away from Durban," Mr Gillerman said.

"Countries like Australia who, to my mind, represent the best of what democracy and civilisation can be, shouldn't take part in this charade."

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"Mr Gillerman also lashed out at critics of the war in Gaza who wanted to prosecute Israeli commanders for alleged war crimes.

The International Criminal Court has signalled it is exploring ways to prosecute Israeli commanders over the use of white phosphorus in densely populated civilian areas.

"I think the Israeli troops should get a medal for the way they conducted themselves in that war," Mr Gillerman said."

http://www.smh.com.au/world/boycott-un-forum-says-israeli-exenvoy-20090215-884f.html?page=1