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HADASSAH LEADERS: WE WILL FIGHT TO DEFEND ZIONISM AT THE WORLD CONFERENCE AGAINST RACISM Sharon At Convention Opening In Jerusalem: Your Presence Here Epitomizes Solidarity With Israel Bonnie Lipton, President of Hadassah, the Women's Zionist Organization, pledged to fight any reference to Zionism as racism at the upcoming UN World Conference against Racism to be held at Durban, South Africa. Speaking at the opening session of the Hadassah National Convention held in Jerusalem, Ms. Lipton said that the target for the destructive campaign to undermine to undermine Israel, Zionism and the Jewish People is the next generation of Jews. Hadassah is a prime mover in current Jewish caucus efforts to remove offensive anti-Zionist and anti-Israel language from the draft resolutions for the Durban Conference. The Hadassah Women's Zionist Organization of America is holding its annual national convention in Jerusalem from August 5th through 9th. This was the only regularly scheduled convention of a major American Jewish organization to be held in Israel this year. 550 delegates attended this major annual event. Prime Minister Sharon, addressing the convention at its opening session said, "Your presence here symbolizes solidarity and the importance of the State of Israel as a world-wide Jewish project." Delegates are spending nine days in deliberations and site visits, and are meeting with a host of dignitaries and public figures from across the political spectrum. Newly arrived US Ambassador Daniel C. Kurtzer, addressed the plenum and President Moshe Katsav will address the concluding session of the convention. Hadassah, with 300,000 members is the largest women's, largest Jewish, and largest Zionist organization in the U.S. It has been a pioneer in establishing medical institutions in Israel and has built two hospitals, a college and other educational facilities in Jerusalem.
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