Mary Robinson Says She Fought Anti-Semitism

President Obama drew criticism from pro-Israel groups when he awarded Former Irish Prime Minister Mary Robinson the highest civilian honor at the White House Wednesday, the Medal of Freedom.

On "Washington Unplugged" Thursday, Robinson said she was an opponent of anti-Semitism, not a tacit supporter of it, and rejected criticism of her role in the 2001 Durban United National Conference.

The former human rights commissioner said she and the conference have been misjudged by history.

"Everybody there knows that I played a huge role in trying to fight the anti-Semitism. I was almost on my own in trying to do it," she said. "But that is a story that has to come out objectively."

She argued that there should be an "independent analysis of what happened in Durban."

"I think I am owed it," Robinson said. "I have been judged by people who have never met me."

She went on to say that America would benefit from an analysis "because we have to continue to fight anti-Semitism wherever we find it."

Robinson insinuated that the South African location of the conference contributed to "emotional anti-Semitism" and that as Human Rights Commissioner she did not have the capacity to control the conference's tone.

She also asserted that she was responsible for minimizing the anti-Jewish, anti-Israel message emanating from Durban.

CBS News' Kimberly Dozer asked whether she agreed with a clause that came out of the conference equating Zionism with racism.

"Of course not," she said emphatically. "I have been fighting anti-Semitism all my life. And everybody knows that who knows me."

"There was no anti-Semitic language in the final document," she said. "But people don't know that because there has never been a proper accounting."

She called Wednesday's White House ceremony "warm," but condemned the United States for "not upholding the high standards" it set for not using torture.

Watch the full interview above.