09 December 2005
The Red Cross and Red Crescent movements on Thursday gained an additional emblem that will let Israel join the global relief network to end a decades-old row. Signatory states to the 1949 Geneva Conventions, in a rare vote, adopted a new symbol - a diamond-shaped red crystal on a white background - into which the Red Star of David of the Israeli relief agency Magen David Adom (MDA) can be placed.
Switzerland, the depositary state for the conventions, had been pressing for a consensus, saying it was more in keeping with humanitarian activity.
But it could not overcome differences, particularly between Islamic states and other members, surrounding the running of emergency services in the Syrian Golan Heights, which Israel occupied in 1967.
"Unfortunately, it is the first time in the history of international human rights law that an international convention of this importance has been put to a vote. It is a real pity," said Syrian Ambassador Bashar Jaafari.
He hit out at the "bankruptcy of this conference," telling journalists that "the only country that won is Israel, which has continued to scoff at international humanitarian law."
Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, admitted that "a consensus would probably have been the ideal."
"But we reached a very good majority, it is a very positive development," he added.
The way to an accord appeared to have been cleared late last month when the MDA and the Palestinian Red Crescent reached a deal making the Palestinians the internationally recognized emergency service within the occupied territories. Syria wanted similar treatment for the Golan Heights.
Mohammad Abu Koash, Palestinian ambassador to international organizations in Geneva, said the emblem was a humanitarian issue.
Karen Abu Zayd, who heads the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, told reporters she was pleased that PRC ambulances had been allowed into occupied East Jerusalem earlier this week.
But Abdel-Rahman Attar, head of the Syrian Red Crescent, cautioned that his country was still demanding an agreement on humanitarian aid in the Israeli-occupied Golan heights as a condition for approving the new emblem.
Syria says Israel is neglecting the health needs of the 25,000 Syrian citizens who live in the Golan.
Attar said the MDA only gives "selective" treatment to Syrians who are prepared to accept Israeli rule in the Golan.
The decision means Israel will now have an emblem that is recognized internationally - the one condition it could not previously meet for membership of the movement.
The creation of the new emblem, and Israel's entry into the movement, will not become official until next year at an international conference that will amend the movement's statutes.
"The most important thing is the result," Noam Yifrach, head of the Magen David Adom, said. "Tomorrow, nobody will remember the numbers." - Agencie
