The American Red Cross and Magen David Adom in Israel
After years of steadfast advocacy by the American Red Cross and the U.S. Government, Magen David Adom (MDA), the Israeli equivalent of the Red Cross, was admitted as a full member of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement on June 22, 2006.
MDA, which was founded in 1930 had not been admitted because it uses the Red Shield (Star) of David which is not recognized under the Geneva Conventions.
Progress toward inclusion of MDA occurred in December 2005 when a Diplomatic Conference in Geneva, Switzerland, adopted the Third Additional Protocol to the Geneva Conventions, which is represented by the red crystal. The Third Additional Protocol creates an additional emblem alongside the red cross and crescent, providing a comprehensive and lasting solution to the emblem question. Its adoption means that MDA may continue use of the Red Shield of David when operating in Israel and, when operating outside of Israel, to use the Red Shield of David inside the newly-adopted red crystal emblem.
‘‘This important decision has strengthened universality within the International Federation,” said Federation President Juan Manuel Suárez del Toro in a recently issued Federation press release announcing the admittance of the two new national societies. “Our global humanitarian network exists to help the most vulnerable, and it is this imperative that drives us forward.”
Today, there are 185 recognized national societies in the Movement.
For updates and more information on MDA membership efforts, please visit www.redcross.org/mda.
