On Monday, 3 September 2001, the delegations of Israel and the United States of America withdrew from the World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance.

The basis of the withdrawal was that the following draft declartion was flawed:

DRAFT DECLARATION

1. We are conscious of the fact that the history of humanity is replete with major atrocities as a result of the gross violation of human rights and believe that lessons can be learned through remembering history to avert future tragedies.

2. We recall that the Holocaust must never be forgotten.


3. We recognize with deep concern religious intolerance against certain religious communities, as well as the emergence of hostile acts and violence against such communities because of their religious beliefs and their racial or ethnic origin in various parts of the world which in particular limit their right to freely practise their belief.

4. We also recognize with deep concern the increase in anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in various parts of the world, as well as the emergence of racial and violent movements based on racism and discriminatory ideas against Jewish, Muslim and Arab communities.

5. We are conscious that humanity’s history is replete with terrible wrongs inflicted through lack of respect for the equality of human beings and note with alarm the increase of such practices in various parts of the world, and we urge people, particularly in conflict situations, to desist from racist incitement, derogatory language and negative
stereotyping.

6. We are concerned about the plight of the Palestinian people under foreign occupation. We recognize the inalienable right of the Palestinian people to self-determination and to the establishment of an independent State and we recognize the right to security for all States in the region, including Israel, and call upon all States to support the peace process and bring it to an early conclusion.

7. We call for a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region in which all peoples shall co-exist and enjoy equality, justice and internationally recognized human rights, and security.

8. We recognize the right of refugees to return voluntarily to their homes and properties in dignity and safety, and urge all States to facilitate such return.

It *is* flawed - there can never be an end to institutionalised racism in the Middle East while any of the existing states in the region continue to exist, and yet it "recognises their right to security". And any new Palestinian state which doesn't replace Israel as the sole state power in Palestine would inevitably be a puppet of Israel, so it wouldn't be genuinely independant or democratic anyway.