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July 25, 2003/Tamuz 25 5763, Vol. 55, No. 48
U.S. releases funds to Red Cross
Magen David Adom controversy still simmers
LISA SCHERZER
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
The United States' decision to release $11 million in aid to the Red Cross is putting the spotlight on ongoing tensions between the international organization and Israel's emergency relief agency.
Magen David Adom is "not being denied participation in the activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent movement," says Secretary of State Colin Powell, despite the fact that Magen David Adom has been barred from full membership because it uses the Star of David emblem.
U.S. Jewish leaders reacted with dismay to Powell's announcement.
"We will be satisfied when Israel is a full member," says Malcolm Hoenlein, executive vice chairman of the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.
The Red Cross' official reason for barring the Star of David is that allowing Israel's national symbol might encourage other countries to press for the inclusion of their emblems. But the exclusion generally is attributed to intense lobbying against Israel by Muslim and Arab members of the International Red Cross.
Rep. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.), a senior member of the U.S. House of Representatives' International Relations Committee, also expressed disappointment at Powell's decision.
"The United States should stand by the Israeli humanitarian organization to ensure this injustice does not go unresolved," he says. "The best leverage Congress has over the (International Committee of the Red Cross) is not to release any money to pay for the ICRC headquarters."
The release of funds appears to be the State Department's way of praising the Red Cross for its efforts to reach a compromise with Magen David Adom.
Martin Raffel, associate executive director of Jewish Council for Public Affairs, says he is concerned that some people might misconstrue Powell's move as a sign that the Israeli agency had been given full membership.
"Looking at the way the law is written, it is true that MDA is involved in activities of the" Red Cross movement, says Raffel, "but it really does not address the ultimate goal of formal recognition."
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