Approval of Israel's Red Cross membership delayed again

[Behind the Aegis]

Approval of a new emblem allowing Israel to join the Red Cross movement was delayed at least until later Wednesday after a conference failed to reach a breakthrough over Syria's demand that Israel allow its humanitarian workers into the Golan Heights.

Instead, the diplomatic conference aimed at bringing Israel into the Red Cross after nearly six decades of exclusion was temporarily broken off after midnight. Participants were told to reconvene Wednesday.

Switzerland, which is hosting the conference in its role as depository state of the Geneva Conventions, said that progress between the Israeli and Syrian societies was insufficient to move forward.

"There is no agreement yet," said Antonella Notari, spokeswoman for the International Committee of the Red Cross.

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/654857.html

[Behind the Aegis]

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