Anti-racism conference probes condemning Israel's separation policies in occupied lands

Heads of state and government as well as representatives of 190 countries and several international organizations discuss in Durban Friday a world strategy and clear-cut measures to combat the racism phenomenon rampant worldwide.

The issue to condemn the Israeli practices in the occupied territories, suppression and separation policies is one of the most important as it captures the interest of most of participating delegations, particularly Arab and Islamic ones.

The Israeli racial discrimination issue will figure in the agenda of the eight-day UN World Conference Against Racism (WCAR) under the item denunciation of settlement building by occupying countries.

Arab countries had asked that the conference's documents would redress mentioning the terms Islamophobia and antagonism against Arabs.

The contention is still on over items linking Zionism to racism and the colonialist counties' responsibilities to compensate African countries for the slavery and segregation as well as the growing xenophobia in European countries.

The officials in South Africa feel proud to host this conference in their country that suffered alot from the spread of racism and xenophobia.