US Slams Durban Conference as Platform for Antisemitism, South Africans Fire Back
- UN Watch and NGO Monitor published a video panel calling the 2001 Durban World Conference Against Racism a global forum for antisemitism
- The US mission at the UN posted the clip on X ahead of the planned Durban 25 commemoration set for 28 September 2026
- South Africans flooded the comments section with strong reactions, accusing America of having lost its moral authority
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UNITED STATES - A video posted on X by the US mission at the United Nations drew sharp criticism from South Africans after it described the 2001 Durban World Conference Against Racism as a catastrophic failure.
The clip was published by UN Watch and NGO Monitor ahead of the UN's planned "Durban 25" commemoration scheduled for 28 September 2026.
US experts label Durban conference antisemitic
The panel of experts in the video argued that the original conference, held in Durban, South Africa, had been hijacked to promote antisemitism and the demonisation of Israel under the cover of human rights advocacy.
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"The Durban conference was an utter failure. Worse, it platformed and promoted antisemitism, anti-capitalism, anti-Westernism and anti-Americanism. The UN continues to poison its brand by commemorating Durban," one speaker said during the webinar.
Another expert went further, describing what took place as "truly Orwellian" and calling Durban "a tipping point for the laundering of antisemitism at the UN." He added that what emerged from the conference was "the metastasized, newly legalised antisemitism under the cover of the UN," and controversially compared the Durban Declaration to "the 'Mein Kampf' of today."
UN Watch calls on governments to pull out
The American delegation withdrew from the original 2001 conference, and UN Watch has since launched a petition urging other democratic governments to follow suit and withdraw from the upcoming September 2026 commemoration.
Since then, SA and the US have had strained relations, with one senator gong so far as to declare South Africa, "an enemy of the States."
South Africans fire back online
The post landed poorly with many South African users, who used the comments section to push back strongly against the American position.
@TamarSussex wrote:
"My fellow South Africans 🇿🇦 this is all about the ICC case against Israel"
@HLABARINTO said:
"Ya'll complain about everything linked to South Africa. A few days ago y'all were whining about 2 flights passing over a stadium."
@Govender_V commented:
"The USA no longer holds its self proclaimed title of being the so called saviours of the world"
@Sakhile_Azania said:
"Leave us alone. Try Nigeria, they seem to enjoy your attention, we don't."
@Voys_ZA added:
" America has lost its standing as a pillar in the world community"
US states it is unhappy with South Africa
Previously, Briefly News reported that the US State Department explained why the country is unhappy with South Africa at the moment. This was after the US had withdrawn all funding to the country, expelled Ambassador Ebrahim Rasool, and President Donald Trump has also made false claims about South Africa.The US accused the country of making decisions not in the best interest of America and the world.
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Source: Briefly News
