EMBLEM: GOI DOES NOT ENDORSE MAGEN DAVID ADOM

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. -------------- MDA Action Not Coordinated, Not Binding -------------- ¶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. -------------- Visit of Swiss FM -------------- ¶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. ********************************************* ******************** Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website: http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv You can also access this site through the State Department's Classified SIPRNET website. ********************************************* ******************** JONES