U.S. Congressman Tom Lantos (D-California), representing the American delegation, said that the Conference had been "hijacked" and suggested that more than 20 anti-Israel references, including description of Israel as a "racist" and "apartheid" state led to the dramatic decision. Lantos suggested that other delegations would either leave the conference or oppose the conference resolution.

"It seems that despite extraordinary efforts by the

"The first human right is to remain alive, and Israel is in danger. We are exercising the most important human right." - Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres

American government reaching back many months, it will prove impossible for the American delegation to continue participating at this conference," said Lantos. "Those who have made it their goal to hijack the conference for their propaganda purposes," he added, "have shown in the course of the day a degree of rigidity and unwillingness to compromise."

U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell released a statement Monday calling back the American delegation from Durban. "Today I have instructed our representatives at the World Conference Against Racism to return home. I have taken this decision with regret, because of the importance of the international fight against racism and the contribution that the Conference could have made to it," his statement said.

"But, following discussions today by our team in Durban and others who are working for a successful conference, I am convinced that will not be possible. I know that you do not combat racism by conferences that produce declarations containing hateful language, some of which is a throwback to the days of 'Zionism equals racism'; or supports the idea that we have made too much of the Holocaust; or suggests that apartheid exists in Israel; or that singles out only one country in the world, Israel, for censure and abuse," the statement concluded.

Peres, speaking at a press conference Monday night, said Israel had "instructed our delegation in Durban to come back home" because of "unilateral and ugly resolution by the Arab and Muslim leagues that are united against peace and for the Intifada against Israel." He called the event "a farce" and a "very bizarre show," commenting that "an important convention that is supposed to defend human rights became a source of hatred, a show with unfounded accusations." He said "the accusers are the ones to be blamed."

"We are talking about human rights," he said. "The first human right is to remain alive, and Israel is in danger. We are exercising the most important human right."

Peres said that Israel was carefully following the American lead in the Conference walkout. "We will not do anything before the United States, to avoid the impression that the United States is serving Israel," he told Israel Radio. The American voice, he added, "carries more weight. So we have decided to be second voice, not first voice."

Characteristically, Peres tried to look on the bright side of the debacle. "All 15 nations of the European Union agreed to oppose the Arab proposal -- this has never once happened," he told Israel Radio. "All the nations of Eastern Europe, who in general line up with the non-aligned nations, agreed to oppose the Arab resolution. The United States led the campaign of opposition."

Peres also found unexpected support in the third world. "It was the first time that India, a country of 1.1 billion people, did not support the proposal of the non-aligned bloc. Russia also did not join [the non-aligned bloc], nor did the nations of Latin America. Japan was very active against the proposal."

Peres said none of the countries he mentioned had taken the Conference seriously once its overwhelming anti-Israel orientation became apparent and it turned into "an embarrassing, one-sided show."

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