[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 42 (Thursday, April 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E511-E512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF H. RES. 464 CALLING FOR THE MAGEN DAVID ADOM SOCIETY'S 
 ADMITTANCE INTO THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE OF THE RED CROSS AND RED 
                                CRESCENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENJAMIN A. GILMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 6, 2000

  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, on behalf of a distinguished group of co-
sponsors, I am introducing today a resolution calling for a 
reaffirmation of congressional support for the admittance of the Magen 
David Adom Society as a full member into the International Red Cross 
and Red Crescent Movement.
  The Magen David Adom Society, an Israeli relief agency that is 
equivalent to the American Red Cross, has served countless people in 
need from many nations for over seventy years. The Magen David Adom 
Society has given this aid to individuals regardless of race, religion 
or nationality. In the last year alone, Magen David Adom Society 
members were directly involved in relief work in Kosovo, Greece, Turkey 
and Indonesia. They were also invaluable in helping American relief 
agencies in the wake of the tragic bombings of our embassies in Kenya 
and Tanzania in 1998.
  It might come as a shock then that, while the national organizations 
of countries such as Iraq, Libya, and North Korea are all full members 
of the International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, the 
Magen David Adom Society is not. Why has the Magen David Adom Society 
been denied membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent 
Movement sine 1949? The answer to this question is simple, and sadly 
enough, political. The Magen David Adom Society has fulfilled the 
criteria for full membership, but has requested recognition of the 
Shield of David as its symbol. Out of respect for the sensibilities of 
Egypt, Turkey and other Islamic member nations, the International 
Movement has accepted the Red Crescent as a joint symbol, but has been 
unwilling to do the same for the Israel's Shield of David.
  Israel's opponents have politicized the International Conference of 
the Red Cross and Red Crescent against her, a practice the American Red 
Cross describes as ``an injustice of the highest order.'' The American 
Red Cross has repeatedly sought to have the Magen David Adom Society 
admitted as part of the International Movement, but has been thwarted 
by the political prejudices of a small number of nations.
  In 1987, Congress affirmed its support for the Magen David Adom 
Society by requesting that they be admitted to the International 
Movement as full members. After 13 years, the International Committee 
of the Red Cross (ICRC) is still dragging its feet on the issue, and 
the Israeli relief agency remains the victim of politics. We must 
reinforce our support for this praiseworthy organization by adopting 
this resolution and letting the other members of the International 
Movement know that we do not look favorably on political bias in 
international humanitarian organizations.
  The following is an excerpt from the International Statutes of the 
Movement. ``The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red 
Crescent makes no discrimination as to nationality, race, religious 
beliefs, class or political opinions. The Movement may not take sides 
in hostilities or engage at any time in controversies of a political, 
racial, religious or ideological nature.''
  Along with my colleagues, I believe in the ideals expressed in the 
Statutes. We call on all members of the Movement to live up to its high 
standards of providing relief to people in need around the world in an 
effective and impartial fashion, by admitting the Magen David Adom 
Society of Israel and according it all the appropriate protections 
under international law.
  I submit the full text of this measure to be printed in the Record:

                              H. Res. 464

       Whereas Israel's Magen David Adom Society has provided 
     emergency relief to people in many countries in times of 
     need, pain, and suffering since 1930, regardless of 
     nationality or religious affiliation;
       Whereas in the past year alone, the Magen David Adom 
     Society has provided invaluable services in Kosovo, 
     Indonesia, and Kenya following the bombing of the United 
     States Embassy in Kenya, and in the wake of the earthquakes 
     that devastated Greece and Turkey;
       Whereas the American Red Cross has recognized the superb 
     and invaluable work done by the Magen David Adom Society and 
     considers the exclusion of the Magen David Adom Society from 
     the International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 
     Movement ``an injustice of the highest order'';
       Whereas the American Red Cross has repeatedly urged that 
     the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement 
     recognize the Magen David Adom Society as a full member;
       Whereas the Magen David Adom Society utilizes the Red 
     Shield of David as its emblem, in similar fashion to the 
     utilization of the Red Cross and Red Crescent by other 
     national societies;
       Whereas the Red Cross and the Red Crescent have been 
     recognized as protected symbols under the Statutes of the 
     International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement;
       Whereas the International Committee of the Red Cross has 
     ignored previous requests from the United States Congress to 
     recognize the Magen David Adom Society;
       Whereas the Statutes of the International Red Cross and Red 
     Crescent Movement state that it ``makes no discrimination as 
     to nationality, race, religious beliefs, class or political 
     opinions'' and it ``may not take sides in hostilities or 
     engage at any time in controversies of a political, racial, 
     religious or ideological nature'';
       Whereas although similar national organizations of Iraq, 
     North Korea, and Afghanistan are recognized as full members 
     of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the 
     Magen David Adom Society has been denied membership since 
     1949; and
       Whereas in fiscal year 1999 the United States Government 
     provided $119,400,000 to the International Committee of the 
     Red Cross and $7,300,000 to the Federation of Red Cross and 
     Red Crescent Societies: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That--
       (1) the International Committee of the Red Cross should 
     immediately recognize the Magen David Adom Society and the 
     Magen

[[Page E512]]

     David Adom Society should be granted full membership in the 
     International Committee of the Red Cross and Red Crescent 
     Movement;
       (2) the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies 
     should grant full membership to the Magen David Adom Society 
     immediately following recognition by the International 
     Committee of the Red Cross of the Magen David Adom Society as 
     a full member of the International Committee of the Red 
     Cross; and
       (3) the Red Shield of David should be accorded the same 
     protections under international law as the Red Cross and the 
     Red Crescent.

     

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