World Jewish News

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) has called on governments to support the convening of a diplomatic conference to facilitate full

The World Jewish Congress (WJC) has called on governments to support the convening of a diplomatic conference to facilitate full admission of Israel's Magen David Adom into the international Red Cross movement.
In letters to every country's United Nations ambassador, WJC President Edgar Bronfman and WJC Governing Board Chairman Israel Singer urged governments to reply to the Swiss government, which is seeking support for a conference to amend the Geneva Conventions and recognize the symbol of the Magen David Adom (Red Star of David), Israel's national society. Currently, Israel's national society is excluded from membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
Bronfman and Singer wrote, "Israel's national society, Magen David Adom (Red Star of David) is an internationally recognized humanitarian organization, which provides assistance and cooperation in international disaster relief efforts. The acceptance of a neutral, non-religious symbol will enable Israel's national society to fully participate alongside other national societies. The time is long overdue to correct this injustice."
Hard-line Arab states are pressuring Switzerland, the depositary state of the Geneva Conventions, to delay the convening of a conference until after the November 2005 biennial General Assembly of the International Federation of the Red Cross, in Seoul, Korea. On June 7, meeting in Cordoba, Spain, the World Jewish Congress Governing Board adopted a resolution supporting the diplomatic conference, and urging all governments to express their support to the Swiss government.

Источник: usnewswire.com