Muslim opposition styming Israel's entry to Int'l Red Cross (Deja vu)

I wrote about this issue a few years ago at the then-hopeful beginning of the admissions process, in an article for for www.Israel21c.com:

"Red Cross officials from around the world gathered in Israel last week for a three-day disaster management workshop hosted by Magen David Adom, which marked an unofficial welcoming of the Israeli rescue service into the brotherhood of the International Red Cross.

"The workshop was organized in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (Federation), and the American Red Cross (ARC).

"According to Douglas Allen, Director of the American Red Cross International Disaster Response Unit, the fact that the conference was held in Israel is proof that the MDA has 'joined the ranks' of the international rescue service community."

Ya' know, youd'a thought that Israel's done quite enough worldwide in health care, emergency triage care, rescue services and cubic acres of chicken soup to get beyond petty bigotry and racism. Especially for those in the Arab and Muslim world, so many of which have been treated in Israeli hospitals, both on and off the record for decades.

Color me naive.

From The Jerusalem Post:

"An attempt to end Israel's long isolation from the Red Cross humanitarian movement hit a snag Tuesday as Muslim opponents used procedural moves to block progress at a decisive international conference, delegates said.

"The International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, which opened Tuesday and is expected to conclude Wednesday, is being asked to approve changes to meet Israeli demands of almost six decades that it be granted full membership without using the cross or crescent to identify itself."