Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who denies the Holocaust and calls for Israel’s destruction, opened the second UN racism conference today (Durban II) in Geneva, predictably denouncing Israel.
Three French protestors, sporting clown wigs, received applause for interrupting the Iranian president’s speech, but were quickly ushered out by security. Ahmadinejad’s speech also triggered a walkout by the EU delegation. The U.S., Poland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand have all boycotted the conference.
Yesterday, the media hammered Swiss President Hans-Rudolf Merz for inviting Ahmadinejad for dinner. However, not enough attention has been given to the fact that Switzerland agreed to host Durban II in the first place.
