In response to reports that the Israel Medical Association is in danger of being ousted from the World Medical Association, Dr Delon Human, secretary general of the WMA, today issued the following statement:

"The WMA has never considered ousting the Israel Medical Association because of the war raging in their country. We have decided to discuss the issues relating to physicians and health care in the Middle East conflict and will do so at our meeting next week. But it is not part of the agenda to discuss sanctioning or expelling the IMA. What we want to discuss among all the members of the WMA is what we can do to help control violence targeted at health care professionals in the Middle East. The Israel Medical Association has been most helpful in this regard."

Note to Editors:
The WMA Council meets in Divonne-les-Bains, France from May 2 to 5. The debate on the Middle East conflict is expected to take place on the morning of Thursday 2 May.