THE United States' absence from the UN global conference on racism in Geneva, in support of Israel, is extremely disappointing. Unfortunately, a number of countries from the developed world - Germany, New Zealand, Australia and some EU nations - also decided to stand by Israel, which is a sad reflection on the conscience of the international community. The Obama Administration has boycotted the event because it fears that the text that would be read out during the meeting contains objectionable language, which would single out Israel for criticism. Besides, the prospect of the opening day speech by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad must have also scared the US Administration away. While the US boycott of the summit has shocked the UN human rights chief Navi Pillay, Finnish Nobel Laureate Martti Ahtisaari, speaking at a forum in Amman, accused Israel of human rights violations in Gaza. He was right in saying that the investigation into the war crimes that were committed during Israeli offensive there could not be carried out because of the US blind support to Tel Aviv. The United States is clearly at fault here. It has to make amends in its Middle East policy and give up its all-out support of Israel, which serves to generate resentment throughout the Islamic world. And because of the same factor, there appears little hope for the two-state solution to become a reality. Meanwhile, the economic blockade of Gaza followed by aerial bombardment and ground operation in it, that led to the death of at least 1500 civilians, mostly children and women, must not be ignored. US participation in the conference and speaking out the truth without any fear of the Zionist entity would have significantly improved its image in the Muslim world. Its contention that Israel should not be condemned in the conference, as it has done nothing wrong to the Palestinians, to all intents and purposes amounts to rubbing salt on the wounds of the Palestinian nation.