SR0236 96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

SR0236 LRB096 12467 GRL 25481 r

SENATE RESOLUTION

WHEREAS, On April 20, 2009, a United Nations World Conference against Racism was held in Geneva, Switzerland to discuss the topic of combating racism and xenophobia throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, During the conference, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad made disparaging comments about the State of Israel, calling the nation a "cruel and repressive racist regime" and accusing the nation of resorting "to military aggressions to make an entire nation homeless under the pretext of Jewish suffering"; and

WHEREAS, The previous World Conference against Racism, held in Durban, South Africa in 2001, saw similar attacks levied against the State of Israel; and

WHEREAS, Such grandstanding and malignant remarks from President Ahmadinejad do not only amount to vile slander against the State of Israel, but also mock the purpose of the conference and its goal of fighting against racism and xenophobic attitudes; therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE SENATE OF THE NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we condemn Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for his disparaging and incendiary remarks regarding the nation of Israel during the United Nations World Conference against Racism; and be it further

RESOLVED, That we urge the citizens and governments of the world to condemn these remarks as well.