Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini has announced Italy's withdrawal from the Durban II negotiations, citing 'aggressive and anti-Semitic statements' in the draft final text. A foreign ministry spokesman said Italy would not participate unless the document was changed. (Thanks to Smooth Stone.)
This sounds a lot like the U.S. position. Canada and Israel, on the other hand, have definitely said they will not attend the Durban II conference. The other EU member states continue to waffle.
Don't forget - the evils of Durban II are not not restricted to attempts to de-legitimize Israel. The Organization of the Islamic Conference wants the Durban II conference to approve the resolution, passed last December by the UN General Assembly, that makes 'blasphemy' (eg criticism of any kind) of Islam illegal in international law. The OIC could then argue that this concept has gained worldwide approval - another nail in the coffin of freedom of speech and religion. See this earlier entry for details.
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