A major conference sponsored by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement was postponed indefinitely Tuesday, after the Palestine Liberation Organization refused to yield to American opposition to its participation.
The conference, which had been scheduled to open Friday in Budapest, is considered the “parliament” of the Red Cross movement. It last met in 1986.
While the United States has consistently opposed PLO participation in world bodies, even as only an observer, the Red Cross is considered particularly sensitive because of its responsibility for implementing the 1949 Geneva Conventions.
The conventions are frequently cited as banning Israeli settlement activities in the territories it captured in 1967, though Israel has staunchly denied their applicability.
In its announcement, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent explicitly blamed the postponement on the inability to resolve the question of Palestinian participation.
The United States had said it would not participate unless the PLO withdrew its request.
Help ensure Jewish news remains accessible to all. Your donation to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency powers the trusted journalism that has connected Jewish communities worldwide for more than 100 years. With your help, JTA can continue to deliver vital news and insights. Donate today.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
