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November 2, 2001/Cheshvan 16, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 8
Cross purposesEditorialA decades-long concern for friends of Israel has been thrust into the national spotlight with Bernadine Healy's abrupt resignation as head of the American Red Cross.Citing policy differences with her 50-member board, Healy said Oct. 26 she was leaving the job she's held for two years because "I had no choice." Those differences, according to Healy and others, include her failing to secure board approval before setting up a separate Liberty Fund for disaster relief following the Sept. 11 terror attacks at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon (the fund has amassed nearly $500 million). She also snubbed a proposal by New York State's attorney general to establish a central database of victims intended to enable victims' families to get help without wandering from agency to agency, and in addition, to avoid duplication of services. Further, there was the issue of the Magen David Adom. Since 1949, the International Committee of the Red Cross has declined to admit the Israeli disaster relief group to membership. Its stated reason? It lets in only groups using the traditional red cross or the Arab red crescent. Two years ago, shortly after taking the helm at the American Red Cross, Healy announced her organization would withhold annual dues of several million dollars from the international body until it changed its policy. While the issue remains under discussion, Magen David Adom recently was granted "observer" status. Healy's courageous challenge of the international body awakened the American public to a wrong-headed, immoral rule not really about crosses, crescents and stars but about Mideast politics. She was right to attempt to influence a body that defines itself as "the world's largest humanitarian organization, providing assistance without discrimination as to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political opinions," yet discriminates against the Jewish state. We can hope that Healy's successor will carry on the fight to force International Committee of the Red Cross to practice what it preaches. |
