South Africa proposed wording for a revised resolution at the UN racism conference on Thursday, in a bid to head off a possible European Union walkout over how to refer to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in conference documents, a European diplomat said.
"We have just received a proposal on the Middle East from the South African presidency (of the conference)," the EU diplomat told Reuters. He would give no further details.
Efforts to reach a compromise Wednesday ended without results and the threat of a possible European Union withdrawal remained intact.
The European Union has rejected attempts by the Arab League to characterize Israeli practices in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as racist.
The United States and Israel withdrew their delegations from the conference on Monday because attempts to reach a compromise failed.
Arab leaders have said a declaration that does not criticize Israel would be meaningless.
"We still have hope, but unfortunately our partners from the EU group are not flexible," said Salman El Herfi, Palestinian Authority representative in South Africa.
Western media coverage of the dispute has focused nearly exclusively on the quarrels between delegates, without examining the factual basis for charges that Israel maintains apartheid-style practices - Albawaba.com
