The Palestine Liberation Organization has applied for observer status with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. The request, by Dr. Fathi Arafat, brother of PLO chairman Yasir Arafat, followed last week’s decision to incorporate the Red Crescent into the Movement. The Red Crescent is the Red Cross equivalent in Moslem countries.
A commission will examine the applications of the PLO and other groups that claim to be national liberation movements. According to observers here, all of the applications will probably be accepted.
But the quadrennial conference of the International Red Cross Movement, which ended here Saturday, refused to budge with respect to the long-standing request by the Magen David Adom for recognition as the Red Cross equivalent in Israel. It was rejected, as it has been since 1949, despite a vigorous challenge by the delegation of the American Red Cross.
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