Moroccan NGO warns against introducing star of David among world emblems
Morocco-Israel, Politics, 5/19/2001

A representative of the Moroccan Red Crescent on Friday warned against introducing the Star of David among the internationally recognized emblems, such as the Red Cross and the red crescent.

"The mere raising such an issue contradicts rules governing the International Red Crescent and Red Cross Union," Mehdi Bennouna told the Union's governing board, which convened a meeting recently in Geneva.

Nobody has the right to take a decision on this issue, even temporarily, Bennouna said, adding such a move falls under the competence of the Union's diplomatic congress.

The Union's assistant secretary-general, Steve Divier, proposed to the board to admit as members the Palestinian Red Crescent and the Israeli and the red David association.

Bennouna argued that legally the Palestinian association cannot be admitted, as long as the United Nations have not yet recognized Palestine as an independent state.

Bennouna's position was backed by the representatives of Switzerland, Germany, France, Egypt, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, Senegal and Niger.

The board decided to refer the issue to the diplomatic congress.

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