The United States has decided not to participate in a U.N. conference on racism in April unless the final document is changed to drop its criticism of religion and all references to Israel, a senior U.S. official said.
The conference is a follow-up to a 2001 gathering in Durban, South Africa, which was dominated by clashes over the Middle East and the legacy of slavery. The U.S. and Israel walked out midway through that meeting.
