The Red Cross humanitarian movement extended membership yesterday to Israeli and Palestinian relief agencies, overcoming political divisions to end a nearly 60-year struggle for accession.
Unable to reach consensus, the Geneva Convention's 192 signatory states and 183 national Red Cross and Red Crescent societies decided in a rare vote to approve a new red crystal emblem for use where the cross and crescent are uncomfortably linked with Christianity and Islam.
The diamond-shaped symbol, into which the Star of David may be placed, made it possible for Israel's Magen David Adom (MDA) to join the humanitarian network which makes up the world's largest relief agency after decades of isolation.
Two politically charged days of talks spilled into the early hours of yesterday, when delegates agreed to admit both the MDA and the Palestine Red Crescent Society in what conference chairman Mohammed Al Hadid called "a historical moment."
The move should help engender better co-operation between Israeli and Palestinian relief services, and ensure more universal access to those needing help from the international relief network, Al Hadid told reporters after the decision.
Despite time-consuming legal and procedural complaints from representatives of the Organization of the Islamic Conference, and a proposed amendment from Pakistan and Tunisia seeking to add wording seen as unacceptable to Israel, the resolution passed with more than the required two-thirds majority support.
Some 237 states and societies voted to change the agency's statutes and add the red crystal symbol, 54 voted against, and 18 abstained, officials said. The Israeli and Palestinian groups were then admitted to the network by acclamation.
Al Hadid said that all national societies could use the red crystal logo in places where the neutral symbol could improve access to victims or reduce risks against aid workers.
"The emblem will not only be used in Israel," he said.
Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, who chairs the board of the American Red Cross, said her organization would repay about US$45 million in dues withheld from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies over concerns about MDA's exclusion.
She said the American Red Cross would present US$24 million yesterday and pay the balance "within an agreed upon time frame," which has not yet been determined.
(China Daily 06/23/2006 page7)