EMBLEM: ISRAELI FM LIVNI PLEDGES ASSISTANCE ON

C O N F I D E N T I A L TEL AVIV 001584

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR NEA/IPA AND PRM FOR PDAS GREENE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2016
TAGS: PHUM PREL PREF PGOV SZ IS GOI INTERNAL ISRAELI SOCIETY
SUBJECT: EMBLEM: ISRAELI FM LIVNI PLEDGES ASSISTANCE ON
MAGEN DAVID ADOM

REF: TEL AVIV 1395

Classified By: Ambassador Richard H. Jones; Reasons: 1.4 (B and D).


1. (C) In a meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni
on April 20 (septels),the Ambassador outlined U.S. efforts
to facilitate the admission of Magen David Adom (MDA) into
the Red Cross/Red Crescent movement. The Ambassador stressed
the importance of four technical changes required to bring
MDA statutes into compliance with the basic requirements for
membership in the movement, i.e., reconfiguring the MDA's
national council, revising the composition of the executive
council, altering the process for nominating the president,
and accepting fundamental Red Cross principles (reftel). He
urged Livni to help ensure that the Minister of Health
approves these measures as quickly as possible, with the goal
of doing so by the April 26 meeting of the ICRC's General
Assembly in Geneva.


2. (C) Livni replied that she is aware of the importance of
the issue and thanked the USG for its assistance. She said
she would speak with the Minister of Health and "do whatever
it takes" on this important issue. She noted the importance
of completing the membership process while the "window of
opportunity" remains open.

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JONES