Israel's News & Views BlogBy Maurice Picow
After being in existence for even longer than the State of Israel itself, Israel’s Magen David Adom health organization appears to have finally been recognized by the International Federation of Red Cross and admitted to that world body as a full fledged member. Despite having one of the finest emergency medical organizations in the entire region, the MDA was shut out from the world health organization that was founded in Switzerland, and has been in existence since 1863. The Red Cross, using an inverted symbol of Switzerland’s national flag, allowed the Arab or Muslim version of the organization to use a red colored crescent (also a religious symbol for devout Muslims) since its admittance into the world health body at end of World War II.
The rejection of Israel’s MDA from this organization, has always been for ‘political reasons’ despite MDA’s proving time and time again that it is more than capable of providing superb emergency health care services, often to members of the Palestinian community as well. A compromise has appeared to have reached concerning the symbol that will be used by the Israeli affiliate on its vehicles, flags, and other logos that are often in display by the MDA, with a red diamond or ‘crystal’ being set forth as the one Israel will use. Although provisions have been made to allow a Star of David, the MDA’s standard symbol, to be ‘positioned’ within this red crystal, the question is how this will be done to serve both Israel’s requirements as well as those of the Parent Organization, based in Geneva; endeavoring not to ‘offend’ those who use the red crescent for their accepted symbol.
Since nationhood, Israel’s MDA has treated all religions living within Israel’s borders, as well as many living in other places as well. MDA field hospitals have often been in place side by side with those of the Red Cross in the aftermath of natural emergencies, such as earthquakes, and have often offered to send medical teams even to countries with whom Israel has no diplomatic relations, including the Islamic Republic of Iran, Pakistan, and Malaysia. Literally thousands of Palestinians have been cared for and treated by MDA emergency units with the sole purpose of saving lives.
The Swiss Embassy in Tel Aviv has been very helpful in correcting this matter, and their efforts are appreciated. The real momentum began to occur with Israel’s decision to withdraw from the Gaza Strip, a move which helped to thaw the impasse that had been in existence for so long. It would have been very nice if the Swiss delegation and other concerned bodies would have helped to persuade the world organization’s headquarters to allow Israel to proudly display the symbol it has used for so long. Is the MDA to use two symbols – the old one for use within Israel, and the ‘Red Crystal’ for international business, such as sending emergency medical teams abroad when natural disasters strike?
For a world organization which turned aside when millions of Jews were being slaughtered by the Nazis a mere 65 years ago; who used the Red Cross symbol to mislead Jews arriving at death camps like Auschwitz, a better gesture should have been forthcoming. In any respect, at least we living in Israel can now say: “better late than never”.
9 Comments
Powerful, powerful!
One of the best blog articles I’ve seen yet!
Unfortunately the Swiss were never known for their compassion towards the Jews,the second world war experience should not be forgoten,
the oil and the billions deposited in Swiss banks
helped them to overlook the red cresent symbol
of the Arab medical organisation.
Yes, the Nazis could have overrun Switzerland (like they did in Greece) but the Swiss, as bankers for stolen Nazi Loot, were more useful as a ‘neutral’ country. The tiny republic was rite with Gestapo and other German agents, who were able to find many Jews who tried to seek assylem there. That’s why so many ‘dormant’ accounts belonging to Jews were discovered not long ago.
I don’t understand the compromise. Who is asking for it? There is no way that Magen David Adom’s symbol should be anything other than the Star of David! Whoever is asking for the compromise seriously blemishes their own symbol. To me, to see the diamond shape together with a cross and a crescent will be a sign and constant reminder of the inability of the cross and crescent to meet at a place of acceptance and Israel’s humility in their ability to rise above it! That is not the cross of my faith, nor is it a very healing gesture!
Without the Star of David, their could be no cross!
The offended party always has the option to withdraw! Compromise is NOT always the answer! I’m sorry, but this just really struck a cord and angers me! I would really like more details on the negotiations here from beginning to end resolve. Surely their were letters back and forth, are they public? That would make for a great attachment to this article! I would just love to know who the players are and what are their thought processes like. Maybe they too, need to review.
“Unfortunately, the red cross and red crescent emblems are sometimes wrongly perceived as having religious, cultural or political connotations.”
Please, who’s trying to kid who here!?
Even if the original intent was not to display a religious symbol (which I do not buy for an instant), what we now have is two symbols of the three major faiths, with one missing. If this international society truly wants to avoid religious perceptions, then perhaps instead of using the cross, they should use the lion, while the crescent users use the sun. As a Christian, I think this is pathetic and it makes me sick to my stomach! It certainly does not incline me to volunteer for such an organization! Christians, wake-up!
The neutraility of the cross is in the fact that it does not represent a “people”, but any and all people willing to accept that the words of the Son were indeed the words and will of the Father and follow the teaching and commands of Christ.
Once the crescent was accepted, the neutraility was lost. And to accept one and not accept the other is not what the cross represents! That is NOT what our Divine/Hebrew Savior died for!
Okay, at His feet I’ll let this be.
I just love the perspective gained when I do that!
If I would have just been quick to listen and slow to speak. I’m awake now.
By their own words, the Red Cross is not the cross of my faith. But in many respects it is, it is as much as the diamond is Israels. And, if there is one thing the cross of my faith has the power to do, it is bring me to the place of acceptance.
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