AJC Delivers 45,000 Pleas To International Red Cross: End Discrimination Against IsraelAmerican Jewish Committee The American Jewish Committee today delivered 45,000 postcards from American citizens urging the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to grant full recognition to Magen David Adom, Israel's national relief agency. "For over 50 years Magen David Adom has been denied full membership solely because its emblem is the red star of David, not the cross of Christianity or the crescent of Islam," said David A. Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee.  "We are looking to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, at its quadrennial meeting in Geneva this week, to address this outrageous discrimination," said Mr. Harris. "The members of the federation should join the American delegation's laudable call yesterday for recognizing the Israeli society's emblem." Despite its unquestioned competence and qualifications, Magen David Adom holds only limited 'observer' status in the Federation. This denial of membership translates into reduced cooperation and coordination for its efforts, less financial support, and the inability to vote on key issues pertaining to the activities and policies of the Federation. AJC launched a major campaign earlier this year to press the international community to recognize the Israeli symbol. One component of the campaign is the postcards, which were sent to the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, the Chair of the Standing Commission of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and the President of the American Red Cross. Each received 15,000 postcards on the eve of the Federation's 27th international conference in Geneva. "It is long overdue for the Federation to act," said Mr. Harris. "We urge the 150 members once and for all to end the discrimination against Israel's national relief society."
For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org |
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