US embassy cable - 05TELAVIV6171

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 006171 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR NEA/IPA AND EUR/AGS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/21/2015 
TAGS: PREL, KPAL, IS, SZ, ISRAELI SOCIETY 
SUBJECT: EMBLEM: GOI DOES NOT ENDORSE MAGEN DAVID ADOM 
DECLARATION 
 
REF: A) GREENE-WALLES E-MAIL 10/15/2005 B) GENEVA 02395 
 
Classified By: Political Counselor Norman H. Olsen, for reasons 1.4 (b) 
 and (d). 
 
This message was cleared by CONGEN Jerusalem. 
 
1.  (C) SUMMARY AND ACTION RECOMMENDATION: Israeli MFA 
Director for international organizations and human rights 
Daniel Meron informed post that the Government of Israel 
(GOI) does not endorse the September 27 declaration by Dr. 
Noam Yifrach, chairman of the MDA executive committee, which 
the Swiss circulated in a letter to diplomatic missions in 
Geneva.  (ref A)  Meron also reported that Swiss Foreign 
Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey will visit Israel between 
October 28 and 31.  At the end of her visit, Meron said, she 
will announce the Swiss plan to hold a conference (ref B) in 
the beginning of December.  Post understands that Swiss 
authorities have broadly circulated the text of the MDA 
declaration, an action that may create an inaccurate 
perception of GOI intentions and flexibility in securing MDA 
membership.  Post recommends that Department and U.S. Mission 
Geneva engage with Swiss officials to ensure that the Swiss 
enjoy absolute clarity on the respective GOI and MDA 
positions.  END SUMMARY. 
 
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MDA Action Not Coordinated, Not Binding 
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2.  (C) According to Meron, MDA did not coordinate its action 
with the GOI, and the GOI does not consider as binding either 
the declaration in general or the specific language stating 
that, once the MDA joins the Red Cross Movement, its 
"geographical scope" will be "confined to the State of Israel 
within its internationally recognized borders."  (ref A) 
Meron said he was surprised by this language. 
 
3.  (C) Meron said MFA Deputy Director General for 
international organizations affairs Aharon Leshno Yaar has 
delivered a letter to Swiss Ambassador at Large for the 
Emblems of the Geneva Conventions Didier Pfirter stating that 
MDA's declaration does not represent the position of the GOI. 
 
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Visit of Swiss FM 
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4. (C) Meron also said FM Calmy-Rey has a request pending to 
meet with Prime Minister Sharon and Foreign Minister Shalom 
during her visit to Israel scheduled for between October 28 
and 31.  At the end of her visit, Meron said, she will 
announce plans for a conference (ref B) in the beginning of 
December. 
 
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