A new humanitarian emblem, a "crystal", was officially adopted by the ICRC, reports Marian Houk in Geneva "The issue is, actually, if they did it with the Palestinians, why are they unable to do it with the Syrians?", asked Syria's ambassador to the United Nations and International Organisations in Geneva, Bashar Al-Jaafari. The Syrian ambassador was speaking as a Diplomatic Conference was meeting in Geneva on 5-6 December to finalise the adoption of a new emblem to identify medical and humanitarian relief workers, and to give them -- and the wounded -- some cover of international protection in conflict situations. Syria's delegation insisted that they should reach an agreement with the Israeli National Society, Magen David Adom, similar to the deal struck in Geneva on 28 November with the Palestinian Red Crescent Society (PRCS). This did not happen. Delegations from the 192 High Contracting Parties of the Fourth Geneva Convention met in marathon sessions, virtually around the clock, on 5-6 December in Geneva, before finally voting to approve the new symbol, which is called a "crystal" -- though it looks more like a red- outlined diamond. The Swiss, in particular, would have liked to maintain the tradition of adopting the Geneva Conventions and their additional protocols by consensus, believing that this would provide reinforcement of humanitarian norms. This was not possible. Syria's Ambassador Al-Jaafari told journalists that "the Israeli chief of National Society, Yifrach, said... in Geneva, when he was gathering with the Palestinian delegation, allow me to read it: 'we also accept that the territories occupied by Israel in 1967 are, in conformity with the Fourth Geneva Convention, within the jurisdiction of other national Societies -- namely, the Palestinian Red Crescent Society and the Red Crescent Society of the Syrian Arab Republic'... So, we are asking him to put these words in a letter, to put these words, what he said, in an official letter. But, seemingly, the Israelis are unable to do so, because the guy got instructions from his government saying: 'don't reach an understanding with the Syrians'. So, the international humanitarian aspect of the issue became a hostage of a political decision inside Israel itself." An agreement, brokered by the Swiss Foreign Ministry, was signed on 28 November -- just days before the Diplomatic Conference -- by the head of the Palestinian Red Crescent Society, Yunis Al-Khatib, and Noam Yifrach, chairman of the Israeli Magen David Adom. The Israeli Foreign Ministry's website reports that, by the terms of this agreement, "MDA recognises the PRCS's right to care for Palestinians in the PA-administered territories, while the PRCS recognises MDA's right to treat Israeli citizens in Israel and the territories. In addition, both parties agreed to install a hotline between their respective dispatching centres and Yifrach also promised to assist the PRCS in case its ambulances are delayed at security... Magen David Adom Chairman Dr Noam Yifrach said Israel's membership in the Red Cross will improve MDA's service within Israel and will allow access to international funds and medical knowledge." The president of the Syrian Red Crescent society, Abdul-Rahman Attar, told journalists in Geneva that, "we came here to discuss The Third Protocol because they want to bring an additional emblem. We are not against it; we have accepted it. But also we would like to see, before this additional protocol, the other side give something." He cited the recent operation in which the Syrian government bought 14,000 tonnes of apples from the people living in the Golan under occupation "and we thank the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) people because they were helping us to transport it [these apples], to help our farmers". Attar said that, "we are responsible for 25,000 to 30,000 Syrian people living under occupation, but unfortunately we are not able to give them any kind of service." He said that the Swiss mission had asked Syria "to show some kind of cooperation, or to discuss the possibility of how to help those people in the Golan. They have asked us to send a letter to the Swiss mission. We sent a letter, signed by the president of the Syrian Red Crescent in Damascus, which was handed to the Swiss ambassador to be sent to the Swiss mission here [in Geneva], I think to say to the other side, to the Nagmet David, what are our very humble things we ask -- we ask to build a hospital, and for some ambulances to serve those people." Residents of the Golan -- who were given Israeli identity cards after the Israeli decision to annex the Golan Heights in 1981, and who were pressured to refuse them as a patriotic gesture of defiance of the occupation -- now have to go to Haifa for the nearest medical care. Once the decision was reluctantly made to go to a vote -- around 1.30 in the morning -- a two-thirds majority was needed. The results, according to ICRC officials were: 98 votes in favour of the new emblem, 27 against and 10 abstentions, (it is not clear what happened to the other 59 delegations who were in attendance at the Diplomatic Conference). News agencies reported that Yifrach, head of the Israeli National Society (or Magen David Adom, MDA), told journalists that, "the most important thing is the result... Tomorrow, nobody will remember the numbers." The next step will be taken in the spring of 2006, when the International Federation of all the Red Cross and Red Crescent National Societies will meet, also in Geneva. Israel, which first applied for membership in the International Federation in 1949, but which refused to forego its Red Star of David emblem, is now expected to be granted admission.
