Anti-Israel activists at Durban were funded by Ford Foundation

[Herschel]

In August 2001, thousands of human rights activists from around the globe gathered in Durban, South Africa, for a United Nations conference that participants hoped would address racial injustice plaguing humanity, from Rwanda to Sri Lanka to the United States.
But after more than a year of preparatory conferences held in Iran, Switzerland, Chile, France and Senegal, it became clear to Israeli officials and Jewish organizational leaders that Palestinian non-governmental organizations, or NGOs, and their allies, had manipulated the agenda of the U.N. World Conference Against Racism into a focused indictment of Israel as an illegitimate apartheid, colonial and genocidal regime.

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As expected, anti-Israel agitation, anti-Zionist propaganda and blatant anti-Semitism permeated the eight-day Durban affair. Posters displaying Nazi icons and Jewish caricatures, anti-Israel protest marches, organized jeering, inciting leaflets and anti-Jewish cartoons were everywhere, as was orchestrated anti-American agitation.

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The Ford Foundation, one of America’s largest philanthropic institutions — and arguably the most prestigious — was a multimillion-dollar funder of many human rights NGOs attending Durban.

That is the conclusion of a two-month JTA investigation, involving interviews with dozens of individuals in seven countries, as well as a review of more than 9,000 pages of government and organizational documents.

Ford — which was endowed with funds donated by Henry and Edsel Ford but no longer maintains any ties to the Ford Motor Company — has long been known as a funder of Palestinian causes.

But most observers did not suspect the extent of the foundation’s involvement in funding of groups that engage in anti-Zionist, anti-Semitic and pro-Palestinian activities both inside and outside the Middle East.

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http://www.jta.org/page_view_story.asp?intarticleid=13328&intcategoryid=6

Outrageous. Anti-semitism under the guise of fighting racism.

[Fight_n_back]

1. What a coincidence

of course pointing out that Henry Ford was a supplier if the Nazis and helped turn Detroit into one of the most anti semitic cities in the country is just a way to stifle debate over car prices.

[rini]

2. Ford and his foundation

have been anti-semitic since day 1. That is why they jack up car prices while ignoring safety and good engineering? Don't know, but it seems like a conspiracy to me.

[Darranar]

3. Henry Ford was a vicious anti-semite...

this is interesting.

I do want to know, however, exactly what was considered anti-semitic in Durban. Anti-Israel, yes. Inflammatory, yes. Misguided, yes. Incorrect, yes. But anti-semitic? I don't remember hearing much about "blatant anti-semitism;" more like heavily biased anti-Zionism.

[dfong63]

7. i'd like to know, too. is there any less biased report of what happened?

[Fight_n_back]

8. Darranar

if one of your gay friendds tell you that something is homophobic, please take a moment to listen to them.

[Darranar]

9. And what does that have to do with anything?

I want to know just what happened at Durban that was anti-semitic.

[Fight_n_back]

12. Just a friendly suggestion

on listening.

[Resistance]

15. guess so

since you can't answer Darranar's question

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Herschel]

5. Your post is repulsive

You advocate the bringing of Nazi symbols? Israel caught a behavioral disease from the Holocaust? I cannot believe my eyes. For shame.

[Darranar]

6. Behavioral disease...

from the Holocaust is a rather inflammatory way to put it, IMO.

The basis of Zionism has always been a refuge from anti-semitism. The Zionist movement's basis for worldwide support is this anti-semitism, the same way that the basis for support affirmitave action is anti-minority racism.

This support, of course, translates into support for the Jewish state. Some take it too far, and fanatically defend all the actions of Israel, whether riduclously inhumnaitarian (the settlements, the wall) or racist but morally justifiable (the immigration policy of Israel.)

This blind support, which greatly helps Sharon, can, therefore, be atrributed somewhat to the Holocaust and other disasters for Jews.

[cprise]

14. Intentions are nice

...but they do not address tendencies that set in, largely because of fear and an entrenched victimhood mentality.

This isn't anything you couldn't read in Tikkun.

I think Israel's current behavior speaks to the label 'inflammatory' better than anything we can come up with here on DU.

[cprise]

13. This is just PC sanitization

Past suffering does not give people the right to behave like primaddonas and trample a discussion.

Using the symbol as a way of accusing others is not reserved for Jews. Swastika's are used almost constantly here on DU in conjunction with images of <favorite right-wing despot>. Ariel Sharon should be no exception. Gays use it, Jews use it, Blacks use it, etc. I've been a gay rights activist, but I can't say I've used it.

It may blow your top when the accusation is reflected toward Israel, but that's not my problem.

PS- I find taking people's words out of context to censor them to be despicable.

[MaidinVermont]

10. More reason to buy a Chevy

And let Ford know why.

[bemildred]

11. Ford Motor Corporation has zippedy-do-dah to do with Ford Foundation.

But don't let that stop you. I like Toyotas myself.