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Israel Yanks Ambassador to Switzerland

Outraged as Iranian, Swiss leaders meet at UN racism conference

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Apr 20, 2009 7:51 AM CDT

(Newser) – Israel has angrily called home its ambassador to Switzerland after that country's president met with Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad ahead of a politically charged UN meeting on racism that began today, the Times of London reports. On Israel's Holocaust Memorial Day, Switzerland’s “guest of honor is a racist and a Holocaust-denier who doesn’t conceal his intention to wipe Israel off the face of this earth,” PM Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The US, Israel, Canada, Germany, Australia, Poland, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand aren’t attending the meeting over concerns of anti-Israel sentiment and a fear that Islamic countries may use the gathering to bar any criticism of Islam. UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon opened the meeting today, calling for extra vigilance against racism in difficult economic times. “I fear that today’s economic crisis, if not handled properly, could evolve into a full-scale political crisis,” he said.


The seat of Israel, center, and other countries are empty during the UN Racism conference at the United Nations headquarter in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, April 20, 2009.
The seat of Israel, center, and other countries are empty during the UN Racism conference at the United Nations headquarter in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, April 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, front, waves after a bilateral meeting with Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations on the sideline of the conference.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, front, waves after a bilateral meeting with Ban Ki-moon, Secretary-General of the United Nations on the sideline of the conference.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Laurent Gillieron)
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers his speech during the opening of the conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Monday, April 20, 2009.
United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon delivers his speech during the opening of the conference at the European headquarters of the United Nations in Geneva, Monday, April 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Keystone, Salvatore Di Nolfi)
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks during a Cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office Monday, April 20, 2009.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, speaks during a Cabinet meeting at his Jerusalem office Monday, April 20, 2009.   (AP Photo/Dan Balilty)
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In Switzerland, the guest of honour is a racist and a Holocaust-denier who doesn’t conceal his intention to wipe Israel off the face of this earth. - Benjamin Netanyahu

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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 3 comments
OWLWOMANXXXX
Apr 20, 2009 5:37 AM CDT
and these kids are leading our world????????????????
Sphinx
Apr 20, 2009 4:37 AM CDT
So they didn't go because they won't be able to criticize Islam? More like they won't be able to criticize Israel. Who boycotts a racism conference?!
Nwambe
Apr 20, 2009 2:22 AM CDT
Oh, for God's sake, I can't understand how Israel can have such childish reactions to a meeting on how to solve or alleviate global racism. Seems a little hypocritical to me!

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