[Peace-discuss] former AIPAC member puts up billboards calling on Congress to stop military aid to Israel

[C. G. Estabrook]

[That is impressive. But meanwhile this is what the administration is 
doing.--CGE]

	Obama admin holds conf call with Jewish groups on Durban II

Senior Obama officials held a conference call with Jewish groups this 
afternoon to reiterate the administration's intent to boycott next 
week's World Conference Against Racism in Geneva unless significant 
changes are made to the meeting's organizing document, according to a 
source on the call.

U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice, NSC aides Samantha Power and Dan Shapiro 
told Jewish leaders that while the lengthy document prepared for the 
U.N.-sponsored meeting -- a successor to the Durban conference -- had 
been improved, it had not been altered enough for the administration to 
send an American delegation to Geneva.

The original document included language portraying Zionism as racism -- 
evoking memories of the 2001 Durban, South Africa, meeting where the 
American delegation walked out after a similar comparison.

Meeting organizers, hoping to placate the Obama administration, took out 
Israel references from the document.

But a source on the call said officials described the changes made as 
insufficient.

This year's meeting is set to begin Monday, making it unlikely Obama 
will send representatives without additional changes made.

The conference -- while little known among average Americans -- has 
divided Obama supporters. Jewish groups have pushed him not to send a 
delegation while some of his top African-American loyalists are urging 
American participation.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0409/Obama_admin_holds_conf_call_with_Jewish_groups_on_Durban_II.html

Robert Naiman wrote:
> check out the photo of the billboard. it's pretty awesome.
> 
> http://www.philipweiss.org/mondoweiss/2009/04/man-who-says-he-is-former-aipac-member-puts-up-billboards-decrying-gaza-as-monstrous-inhumanity.html
>