Heads of Israeli, Palestinian Red Cross societies discuss historic collaboration

UCLA's Center for Near Eastern Studies and the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles' International Services division will host a breakfast conference at UCLA featuring the leaders of the Israeli and Palestinian Red Cross national societies, who will discuss their ongoing historic collaboration. Their work together has resulted in an integrated humanitarian response to the needs of both Palestinians and Israelis. The leaders will also address how they successfully gained admission for their two Red Cross societies to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.

 

The conference will feature the recipients of the American Red Cross Humanitarian Prize, which was awarded in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 18:

 

 

9–11 a.m., Friday, Nov. 21

 

UCLA's Rolfe Hall, Room 1200 (campus map: www.maps.ucla.edu/campus)

 

Despite differences in religion and decades of conflict, Dr. Yifrach and Mr. Al-Khatib work together to adhere to the International Red Cross principles of neutrality and impartiality. Volunteers and staff members of both organizations work side by side, sometimes under dangerous circumstances, to respond to emergencies of all kinds. Although Yifrach and Al-Khatib have endured criticism both from within and outside their organizations, they have proven that humanitarianism can be a bridge to cooperation and peace.

 

As part of the American Red Cross, the Greater Los Angeles chapter is affiliated with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, the world's largest humanitarian network. For more information, visit www.redcross.int. For more on the Center for Near Eastern Studies, visit www.international.ucla.edu/cnes.

 

Red Cross: Hedihe Abaei | 310-477-5176 | 310-869-7848

UCLA: Elizabeth Kivowitz Boatright-Simon | 310-206-1458 | 310-466-8769

 

Please call UCLA media contact to arrange parking.