Nine countries boycotted, “Durban II”, the United Nations human rights conference, going right now in Geneva. And even more significantly, approximately fifty delegates representing the most powerful nations that chose to participate, walked out in the middle of Iranian President Ahmadinejad’s address to the gathered conference participants. But we see scant coverage of these facts, at least compared to the rivers of ink spilled about the conference itself and Iranian leader who spoke there. I wonder why that is.
Could it be that we cannot take “yes” for an answer? Could it be that we don’t really appreciate that kind of support because of how it redefines who we are and because of the obligations that accompany that new definition?

Jews, supporters of Israel, or any sane people who reject Mr. Ahmadinejad’s ugly ranting can no longer portray ourselves as lonely voices of sanity crying out in the wilderness of global politics. There is something seductive about portraying ourselves that way, I know. It gives us a kind of moral purity and the privilege of playing the underdog, both of which grant remarkable freedom from accountability. But it’s time to admit that we have more allies than we sometimes like to admit, and to actually use that strength to do more than constantly defend ourselves and celebrate our own vulnerability.
The world is not perfect, Israel still has many enemies, and there are almost certainly still real battles that will have to be fought. But this has been a good week in many ways, certainly compared with “Durban I”, and it’s high time to acknowledge that fully. Those who walked out made a profound statement that had they not been there to begin with, could not have been made at all. And for those who remained in the room that was a statement that spoke far louder than simply not showing up at the conference at all.