Over 40 Nations Boycott UN Durban Conference Event

More than 40 countries boycotted a United Nations event commemorating the 25th anniversary of the original Durban Conference, setting a new record for abstentions. The previous record was 38 countries in 2021. This widespread boycott was the result of a sustained diplomatic effort by Israel's Foreign Ministry, engaging with governments worldwide to increase the number of nations avoiding the event.

Israel's UN Ambassador, Danny Danon, also worked with the UN General Assembly presidency to limit the conference's scope. The event was restricted to official working hours, parallel panel requests were denied, and the interactive discussion was shortened to just one hour.

The original 2001 Durban Conference in South Africa, officially focused on combating racism, quickly devolved into severe antisemitic attacks against Israel. Consequently, Israel and the United States withdrew from the proceedings in protest, and many other nations have since joined the boycott of follow-up events.

Ambassador Danon praised the diplomatic success, stating, "Today a record was broken in the number of countries refusing to take part in the Durban disgrace. The world is sending a clear message to the UN: we do not celebrate antisemitism and do not legitimize hatred of Israel under the guise of fighting racism." He added, "25 years later, it is time for the UN to bury Durban's toxic legacy instead of continuing to revive it. The more the UN continues this charade, the more countries choose simply not to attend."