Mideast Report

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's relief organization may soon be admitted into the International Red Cross.

"There is now, I think, a genuine willingness on the part of the leadership" of the International Red Cross to "find an answer" regarding Magen David Adom, American Red Cross chairman David McLaughlin told the Jerusalem Post.

He made the comment after he told the international relief organization that he plans to continue withholding annual dues because of its exclusion of Israel.

"I think there's an increasing sentiment" that Magen David Adom "should be admitted. Many of the European countries are coming to that view, though not all of them," he said.

New election called for top Labor post

JERUSALEM (JTA) -- The two candidates for leadership of Israel's Labor Party agreed to new elections.

The September primary was declared void amid allegations of voter fraud. The candidates, Defense Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer and Knesset Speaker Avraham Burg, agreed to limit harm to the party by holding a new vote.

Will Iran recognize Israel's legitimacy?

TEHRAN (JTA) -- Iran's president hinted that his country might one day accept Israel's right to exist.

In an interview that appeared in Saturday's New York Times, Mohammad Khatami said the Palestinians should have the final say on whether to accept the Jewish state.

"It is the people of Palestine that have the last word, and naturally when the Palestinians themselves accept an issue, the rest of the world will accept it too," Khatami said. "We will respect the wishes of the Palestinian nation."

In related news, Jordan's King Abdullah said the Arab world must be prepared to offer a collective guarantee of Israel's security, Such a move will be necessary in return for the creation of a Palestinian state, he told the Times of London on Saturday.