04 August 2006
Jewish groups have protested against the focus on Lebanon by a United Nations committee against racism. Ahead of Thursday’s special session in Geneva by the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the World Jewish Congress (WJC) called on the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Louise Arbour, to oppose the politicization of CERD. At its meeting Israel was accused of violating the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, in connection with the ongoing conflict in southern Lebanon. CERD, a panel of professional experts, is mandated to review member states' compliance with the Convention, not to address political or military situations. In their letter to Arbour, WJC President Edgar M. Bronfman and WJC Policy Council Chairman Israel Singer wrote: "We expect you are using your good offices and public platform to dissuade this diversion from CERD's mandate."
