International Red Cross (2003)

WHEREAS the Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the American Red Cross meets all of the criteria for membership in the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and

WHEREAS, the Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies has denied the Magen David Adom membership in the Federation, citing its use of an alternate symbol; and

WHEREAS the Federation's exclusionary policies with respect to the Magen David Adom are inimical to the fundamentals of the Red Cross movement; and

WHERAS the American Red Cross has continued its efforts to achieve recognition of the Magen David Adom symbol and full membership for the Magen David Adom Society in the Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies; and

WHEREAS the United States Congress, has linked release of appropriated funds for the headquarters portion of its support of the International Committee of the Red Cross to a State Department certification that "the Magen David Adom Society of Israel is not being denied participation in the activities of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement"; and

WHEREAS such linkage has caused the signing of the first cooperation agreement between Magen David Adom Society and the International Committee of the Red Cross which will result in greater Magen David Adom operational collaboration with the Movement; and

WHEREAS in order to raise the threshold for release of appropriated funds for headquarters portion of its support of the International Committee of the Red Cross in FY 2004, the United States Congress is attempting to adopt new statutory provisions and report language within the State Department Authorization bill (H.R. 1950 and S.925), which if adopted, would require the State Department to provide more complete details regarding where responsibility lies in the overall effort to bring the Magen David Adom Society into the International Red Cross Movement and progress made on these multiple tracks.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism supports the language in the House version of the State Department Authorization bill (H.R. 1950) that relates to the Magen David Adom Societies' full participation in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism thank the American Red Cross for its continued support of the full recognition of the Magen David Adom Societies by the International Committee of the Red Cross and its participation in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism call upon its affiliated congregations and their members to register and articulate their support, with their Congressional and Senatorial delegations, for the House version of the State Department Authorization bill (H.R. 1950) that relates to the Magen David Adom Societies' full participation in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism call upon its affiliated congregations and their members to send letters of appreciation to the American Red Cross for their continuing efforts to achieve recognition of the Magen David Adom symbol and full membership for the Magen David Adom Society in the Federation of Red Cross and Crescent Societies; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism call upon its affiliated congregations and their members to continue to support the work of the American Red Cross through financial contributions, blood donations, and other means; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the President of the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism or her designee send a copy of this resolution to the President of the American Red Cross, the President of the International Committee of the Red Cross, and appropriate congressional leaders, and the United States Secretary of State.